Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The NCSE is an independent body that has been given the power to make decisions in this area. It is not my Department that makes these calls. The NCSE has the power to allocate resource teachers and SNA. We have massively expanded the number of SNAs by 1,000 per year and have provided 1,800 additional resource teachers by means of the past three budgets. We are greatly expanding provision in this area. The Department is providing many resources in this area but the decision on individual placements and whether a mainstream setting, special class or special school is appropriate is something on which, ultimately, parents, schools, special needs organisers and the NCSE advise us.

That said, I will certainly seek a report on what is being done in this case. There appear to be seven early intervention settings in Carlow and Kilkenny, although I do not know where they are located or whether they are in suitable locations. Where a need is identified and has not been met and where there is a case for an additional class to be provided in a school or a network of schools, the NCSE would encourage a school to make an application and would support it as a matter of urgency, be it in the context of temporary accommodation or, if an adaptation can be made, permanent accommodation. There is a good support system but the decisions are mediated through an independent body. It is important for the protection of parents that it is not down to the political system or departmental officials.

I will ensure that this matter is examined. I offer my apologies that I genuinely did not know that any suggestion of an individual case was submitted to my Department. That was not brought to my attention and I will check what went wrong there.

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