Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 817: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) is to lose her one hour per day resource teaching hours; her views on whether putting this person in group resource with children who have dyslexia is totally unsuitable; if the decision will be rescinded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34265/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department is proposing a new system for the allocation of resource teaching supports to pupils with special educational needs. This system will involve a general teaching allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence SEN, i.e., those with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability, and also those with learning support needs. This pupil's SEN appear to be within the high incidence category. Therefore, it would be expected that these needs can be met from within the current resource-learning support teaching allocation available to the school. The school currently has the services of three full-time resource teaching posts, one shared resource teaching post, two full-time learning support posts and one shared learning support post.

It is a matter for the school to deploy these resources to meet the SEN of the pupils in the school. I emphasise that individual applications may continue to be made for specific resource teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 818: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of psychologists and other staff assigned to the assessment and processing of applications for special needs assistance; the average length of time taken from the submission of a request for a special needs assistant to the date on which the school is given approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34266/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education assumed responsibility for processing applications for special needs assistant support from 1 January 2005.

I am satisfied that the establishment of the NCSE will greatly enhance the provision of services for children with special educational needs and result in a timely response to schools which have made application for SEN supports. The local service delivery aspect of the council's operation will be the responsibility of special educational needs organisers. Up to 70 SENOs have been employed, all of whom have a qualification and previous work experience relating to service delivery to children with disabilities. The SENOs will be responsible for co-ordinating and facilitating delivery of educational services to children with disabilities at local level. In particular, the SENOs will be a focal point of contact for parents or guardians and schools, and will process applications for resources for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. This will also involve regular and detailed engagement with organisations such as health authorities, the Department, including administrative divisions, the Inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service.