Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the secondary school facilities which are available for autistic children here; and if she has proposals to make them more accessible and available. [4411/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is already supporting the education of individual students with autism in various second level schools throughout the country. Discussions are taking place with the management authorities of a small number of schools with a view to establishing second level provision for groups of children with autism who are now coming to a transition stage and are about to move from primary to second level. Organising such provision is a significant task of the National Council for Special Education.

The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order 2003. With effect from 1 January 2005, the NCSE, through local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, will process resource applications for children with special educational needs. Where a pupil with special educational needs enrols in a post-primary school, it is open to the school to apply to the local SENO for additional teaching support and-or special needs assistant support for the pupil.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications received in her Department for teaching assistants since January 2004; the number of these applications which were accompanied by a psychological evaluation recommending a teaching assistant; the number of these applications subsequently granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4420/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I take it that when the Deputy refers to teaching assistants, she is referring to special needs assistants. The Deputy will be aware that with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has taken over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. In particular, it is responsible for the following: deciding on applications for resource teaching hours in respect of children with low incidence disabilities with special educational needs at primary level; deciding on applications for additional teaching support in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs at second level; deciding on applications for special needs assistant, SNA, hours.

Under the new arrangements, the council, through the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, will process the relevant application for resources and inform the school of the outcome. It is important to note that in the case of decisions on resource teaching and SNAs, the SENO will outline the process to the school and parents, where appropriate, and will at the end of the process outline the basis on which the decision was made.

The Deputy is also 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.

For these reasons, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I am, however, satisfied that the establishment of the NCSE will greatly enhance the provision of services to children with special educational needs, SEN, and result in a timely response to schools who have made application for SEN supports. The local service delivery aspect of the council's operation through the SENOs will provide a focal point of contact for parents-guardians and schools and will, I am confident, result in a much improved service for all.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the assistance which can be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4460/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the relevant vocational education committee that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is enrolled and in attendance at a post-primary school. Where a pupil with special educational needs enrols in a post-primary school, it is open to the school to apply for additional teaching support and-or special needs assistant support for the pupil.

My Department allocates additional teaching support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and vocational education committees to cater for pupils with special educational needs. Each application is considered on the basis of the assessed needs of the pupil or pupils involved and having regard to a range of factors, including the overall resources available to the school.

My Department has approved an allocation of 48.60 hours teaching support per week and 56.0 hours special needs assistant support per week to the school in question to cater for the special educational needs of a number of pupils, including the pupil to whom the Deputy refers. The level of support allocated was determined after detailed consideration of the school's application, the supporting documentation provided and having regard to the overall level of resources already available to the school to address special needs issues.

If the school authority is of the view that the existing approved allocation is incapable of addressing the current level of assessed special needs within the school and additional information to that already submitted becomes available, my Department will be prepared to reconsider the case.