John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I apologise for the fact that the Minister cannot be here this evening and I will read the response on his behalf. I thank the Deputies for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to clarify the position on some of the matters raised.

The Deputies will be aware that the Department requested the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to review all special needs assistant, SNA, posts because it had become clear that a number of SNA posts were in schools where the care needs of the pupils in the schools concerned did not justify such an allocation.

The NCSE, through its network of special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is at present carrying out a review of SNA allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria as outlined in the Department's Circular 07/02 governing the allocation of such posts are properly met. SENOs are communicating the outcome of the review directly to schools as the review progresses. The allocation for any school and any adjustments to that allocation depend on a number of factors such as the number of pupils with care or medical needs leaving, the number of new pupils with such needs and the changing needs of the pupils. It is expected that the NCSE will have completed the review by the end of March.

St Joseph's Special School is a designated school for children with mild general learning disability. I understand that the school has 89 pupils enrolled and a total staff of 20 teachers and 17 SNAs. The NCSE commenced a review of the SNA allocation in St. Joseph's in October 2009 and the results of the review were confirmed to the school on 8 February 2010. The NCSE has advised the school that it is to reduce the number of SNAs by four and that this should be achieved by 19 February. The NCSE has also advised the school that it will not alter the level of teaching staff in the school for the remainder of the current school year.

The NCSE is committed to engaging with the school authorities and all other relevant State agencies to manage the situation in the short term and to ensure a sound basis for staff levels in the interest of pupils. I understand the NCSE intends to meet with the school authorities shortly in this regard. The Department has already indicated to the NCSE that it is prepared to attend a meeting with the school if this is considered helpful. I understand also that the NCSE is arranging to meet with parents individually in consultation with the school authorities.

I want to emphasise what is really important here. The terms and criteria for the SNA scheme have not changed. Where the criteria justify, additional posts are being allocated. However, where the criteria are not met, there may be a reduction in an SNA allocation. There is no question of posts being removed from schools where they meet the scheme's criteria. However, there is also no question of posts being left in schools indefinitely where they are deemed to be surplus to the care needs of the pupils.

The Deputies are fully aware that the Department has prioritised the provision of special education supports to schools. This is a key Government policy. However, this does not mean that resources allocated in response to various historical factors are retained in schools ad infinitum. At a time of constrained resources it is essential that we ensure that public resources are deployed as effectively as possible. Resources left in an area that are not in accordance with criteria mean public resources are not available for another deserving area.

I am sure that the Deputies share the Minister's concern to ensure there is a consistent application of policy on the allocation of special needs supports throughout the country and this is all that is happening at present. The Department can assure the Deputies that supports will continue to be made available to schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for such support, and children with special educational needs will continue to have access to an appropriate education in line with the Department's policy. Schools will continue to be allocated additional teaching and SNA support in line with current policies. These policies have not changed.

With regard to the role of special schools, the National Council for Special Education expects to be in a position shortly to provide to the Department a copy of the research it has commissioned concerning the role of special schools and special classes. Ultimately, it is expected that advice received from the NCSE will assist the Department with policy formulation on the role of special schools and special classes. The Department is anxious that the skills and expertise these schools have accumulated in supporting children with special educational needs is utilised to best advantage in providing for such children. The Department looks forward to receiving the report from the NCSE.

On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputies once again for raising this matter.

See this speech in context