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

I welcome the interest in the report. There is the question of complex medical needs that is clearly highlighted in the report. The NCSE calls for a new approach that would involve ring-fencing nursing support in order that it would be part of a new approach to supporting schools and involve a range of therapies. As of today, nursing support provision is the responsibility of the Department of Health, not the Department of Education and Skills. The provision of nursing support for the schools will be through the Department of Health. What is at stake is the delivery of a new model. The Deputy is right in saying we sat down, in the light of the NCSE's concerns, and work is ongoing between my Department and the Department of Health to improve such support. There are 1,090 full-time equivalent SNAs being allocated; 800 were allocated recently and more will be allocated at the start of the coming year, in January. There has been no change in the way SNAs are allocated. They are allocated on the basis of the profiled need within a school. Every child who needs an SNA has one provided under this process. The NCSE independently decides on the level of need.

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