Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of autism or other special teacher units currently available at all mainstream schools in County Kildare; the full extent of the requirement; the number of applications for such facilities currently before her; her intentions to respond to such requests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47774/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Government is committed to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support students with special education needs. The SENO will also consider applications from schools to establish special classes for students with autism. I set out below, for the Deputy's information, a list provided by the NCSE of schools approved for ASD classes in the Kildare area.

When a school is approved for an ASD/Special Needs Unit, and its existing accommodation does not meet this need, the school may apply to my Department for funding for such accommodation. All such applications are afforded a high priority. In some cases, if it is not possible to carry out a major extension to the school in the time available, temporary accommodation is put in place. I can confirm to the Deputy that all schools in Kildare that applied for additional accommodation in this regard in 2010 were provided with funding.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 77: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she has received requests for special needs teachers from school authorities in County Kildare; the degree to which her response has met such needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47775/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she has received requests for special needs teachers from school authorities throughout the country; the degree to which her response has met such needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47882/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos 77 and 99 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers to schools to support children with special educational needs.

The NCSE is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. Additional teaching supports are allocated as necessary by the NCSE in line with my Department's policy to support children with special educational needs. Schools, which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs that are eligible for such support, apply to the NCSE for the allocation of the necessary resources. The NCSE has outlined the processes involved in the consideration of applications for special needs supports in its Circular 01/05 which is available on www.ncse.ie.

I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the total requirement in respect of speech and language teachers available in County Kildare at present; the way this meets the local requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47777/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 97: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the current total requirement in respect of speech and language teachers available in each county at present; the way this meets the local requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47880/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos.79 and 97 together.

My Department provides for the establishment of special classes for specific speech and language disorder (SSLD) in primary schools. Applications to establish such classes are considered by the special educational needs organiser (SENO) and those meeting the criteria for establishment are approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

A full-time teacher is assigned to each class, and classes operate with a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 7:1. A minimum number of five eligible pupils is then required for a school to retain a SSLD class. There are 66 special classes for children with SSLD in primary schools nationwide. A list of these classes is attached. Speech and language therapy services are provided to these classes by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

It is to be noted in general that the NCSE will consider applications from schools for the establishment of special classes and will also discontinue classes, as required in line with my Department's policy.

As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE is funded to provide therapy services, including speech therapy services for children.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the total requirement of special needs assistants as identified by the various school authorities at primary level in County Kildare at present; the degree to which she has responded to such requests in the past six months; her plans by way of provision for 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47778/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the total requirement of special needs assistants as identified by the various school authorities at primary level in each county at present; the degree to which she has responded to such requests in the past six months; her intentions by way of provision for 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47879/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 96 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.