Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to clarify the position in relation to the matter raised by him. An important feature of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 was the setting up of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. The council was formally established on 1 October 2005 and was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities, with particular emphasis on children.

The council's remit includes the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs. In particular, its network of 89 special education needs organisers, SENOs, including 12 senior SENO positions based in over 40 NCSE offices throughout the State, co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of special educational services. They act as single points of contact for parents of students with special educational needs, schools and the health sector where appropriate. The responsibility for the deployment of the SENOs rests with the council. The NCSE is responsible, through its SENOs, for allocating special education supports, including resource teachers and SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The council operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support. It has advised the Department that a SENO post in the council's Ennis office, covering east County Clare and north County Tipperary became vacant unexpectedly during the current academic year.

Having regard to the priority importance of front line SENO services, the council sought derogation from the moratorium on the filling of posts in the public service. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that this has been approved by the Departments of Education and Science and Finance. I understand that arrangements are now being made by the council to fill the post in question through the Public Appointments Service. It is expected that the appointment will be made shortly.

I assure the House that when temporary SENO vacancies arise from time to time, for a variety of reasons, the council seeks to provide such cover from within existing resources. The council has advised the Department that temporary SENO cover is being provided in relation to the district to which he refers.

I am also pleased to advise the House that in the context of enhancing the capacity of the council to co-ordinate the provision of services to children with special needs, approval has been given to the council for a further two new SENO posts. The council is also making arrangements for the deployment and filling of these posts. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter.

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