Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

The Deputy is basically correct. We have the employment control framework figure of 10,575 and this was communicated to the NCSE. Last year, its SENOs communicated to all the schools that 10% was being retained in order to deal with late applications and emergency cases. Unfortunately, the communication was not properly or clearly understood and, in some cases, understandably - I am not blaming anyone as we are all human - this was communicated as a 10% reduction in that total number. That was not the case.

The operation of the NCSE is separate from the Department of Education and Skills. The assessment of special needs, as the Deputy knows, is a function of the SENOs and the allocation of resources and the prudent retention of a reserve to deal with late applications or emergency cases is a judgment of the NCSE. What I will be asking the NCSE in light of the Deputy's very rational question is whether it is being over-careful in holding back 10% or being over-careful in the way in which they are assessing late applications. There is no gain from our point of view within the Department of not filling the full allocation of SNAs within the framework of employment control.

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