David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number and location of special educational needs organisers appointed; the responsibilities of these co-ordinators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24011/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education has been established as an independent statutory body under the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order, 2003. The order requires the council to undertake its full range of functions with effect from October 2004. The council has approval to employ up to 80 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, to undertake the service delivery aspects of its functions. I understand that most of these SENOs were appointed at the beginning of September and that the council expects to have its full complement of SENOs appointed by the end of the year. I further understand that the council will deploy the SENOs throughout the State to ensure national coverage.

The number of SENOs employed at any given time, the details of the exact locations in which they are employed and their detailed job descriptions are all internal operational matters for the National Council for Special Education. I will request the council to provide the information directly to the Deputy.