Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Approximately 900 schools do not have an SNA. These figures belie any contention that there has been a serious diminution of the levels of SNA support. They also highlight the inaccuracy of exaggerated claims that the review would result in thousands fewer SNAs being employed.

I will now address the concerns expressed by Deputies about the review process itself and reassure the House on this issue. I emphasise that every school was requested to inform parents that the review was commencing and to invite them to contribute, should they wish, either by telephone contact or by appointment during the review. Many parents participated in the process. In deciding the level of SNA support to be allocated to the school, the SENO visited each school and examined the professional reports for each child with special educational needs. The review process also allowed SENOs the opportunity to discuss with the principal, teachers and SNA the manner in which the care needs of the child arose in the school and to look at the school records and so forth. The SENO observed the student in the classroom and the schoolyard. To fully review the needs of all pupils enrolled in special schools, the council arranged for a team of two to three SENOs to visit each school.

I am aware, from the council, that some schools were concerned that the decision was only taken on the basis of the observations of the SENO in the classroom. The House will appreciate, from the process I have outlined, that the SENO considered the professional reports, discussions with staff and any school records, as well as direct observation before determining the appropriate level of support.

Since January 2005, the council has been committed to exercising its role in the allocation of additional teaching hours and SNAs to schools to support the education of children with special educational needs in a way that is fair, consistent and transparent. In carrying out this function, the council applied my Department's policy and has sought to obtain all relevant evidence in regard to a child's educational and care needs.

Each year, approximately 4,000 primary, post-primary and special schools submit in the region of 12,000 applications for teaching and SNA supports to their local SENO. Given the scale of the operation, it is inevitable that some schools or parents may seek to query the outcome of the decision-making process in regard to a child or a particular group of children. In certain cases, the school or parents may be in a position to provide additional information, such as new professional reports, which come to hand when the original decision has been made. The council will take the necessary steps to review the original decision in such cases and will alter the level of resources to be allocated to the school, if considered appropriate.

However, the council has recognised that situations will arise where no new information is available but the school or parent is not satisfied with the outcome. To address such cases, the council has recently introduced an appeals procedure whereby schools and parents may appeal a decision in regard to the allocation of teaching and SNA resources. Where that is lodged by the school, they will be permitted to retain the resources under appeal, pending the outcome of the appeals process.

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