Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 1253: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will immediately sanction the provision of 20 hours of special needs assistance support and five hours of resource teaching for a person at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2048/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department sanctioned five hours special needs assistant, SNA, support for the pupil in question on 1 November 2004. The school subsequently requested additional SNA support for this pupil and provided further information in support of their request. The case was reviewed and the advice was that no additional SNA support was warranted. This decision was recently conveyed to the school.

The Deputy may be aware that a review of SNA provision in primary schools commenced in September 2004 and is continuing. The review is concerned with the level and deployment of SNA posts in mainstream classes. The intention is to ensure that the level of approved SNA support in schools, and the manner in which that support is being allocated, are such as to ensure that the special care needs of pupils are being appropriately met. The school in question is due to be reviewed shortly and the result of the review will be notified to the school authorities as soon as it becomes available. The school is aware of the proposed review.

My officials will contact the school shortly concerning the application for resource teaching support.