Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

-----and very angry about the situation that had arisen. However, I want Deputies to understand that I meet that situation in many places. In that school, for example, which I understand was mentioned in the programme yesterday, there are three special classes for autism spectrum disorder, with 13 special needs assistants catering for the 18 pupils in those classes, or almost one SNA for each individual pupil, higher than the recommended ratio for special class groups, namely, one SNA for three children.

The Deputy knows, as I do, that no one knows a child better than its mother does. This is obviously of great concern and anxiety to people. We all want to see a situation where every child gets the best opportunity. I believe, therefore, that in reviewing this the Minister for Education and Skills is right to look at the issue of the extent of observation time in classes in order that those who are professionally qualified to make an assessment about a particular child's needs from an educational perspective are enabled to do so. Based on those recommendations the Minister and the Department can determine the allocation of SNAs for each school and, through the special education needs officer, discuss the best use of that allocation between the teachers and the staff allocated to the children.

I reiterate that in any individual case where a professional assessor states that any particular child needs access to a special needs assistant, that access will be granted to that child.

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