Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a special needs assistant will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if consideration will be given to a reassessment of this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15892/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department received an application for special needs assistant, or SNA, support for the pupil in question. The application is currently being considered, and a decision will be conveyed to the school in the coming days.

With regard to the matter of re-assessment, I understand that a psychologist from the National Educational Psychological Service will monitor the situation when she visits the school shortly.

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will take steps to respond to the report submitted to her Department seeking the provision of a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15893/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the school was advised on 16 August 2004 that the pupil in question did not meet the criteria for special needs assistant, or SNA, support, as there was insufficient evidence of care needs.

The Deputy may also be aware that the National Council for Special Education, or NCSE, which became operational on 1 January 2005, now processes applications for special educational needs, or SEN, supports. The NCSE will consider any new application for SNA support that the school may wish to submit when accompanied by relevant additional information, which may not have been to hand at the time of the decision.

My officials have been in contact with the local special educational needs organiser, or SENO, who has confirmed that no additional information has been received in this case. If additional information is made available, the SENO will further review the case and notify the school of the outcome.