Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will reimburse a certain sum to a secondary school (details supplied) spent in the refurbishment of old prefabricated buildings to prepare for the education and integration of one student on the autistic spectrum in view of the fact that same school is now willing to accommodate an additional five students in these buildings and to establish a special class for them; if she will provide the basis for her decision regarding the provision of such funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26812/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is within the mandate of the NCSE to fund the building or refurbishment of any school buildings intended to facilitate the education and integration of students with special needs; if the NCSE has the power to provide such funding or where this responsibility lies; the criteria which must be satisfied in order for such funding to be allocated; the application processes in place for schools which wish to secure such funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26816/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 and 521 together.

My Department is inquiring into the detail of the works carried out at the school to which the Deputy refers and will contact the school authority directly on the matter.

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. These responsibilities include the following: 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; processing applications for school placement in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs; and recommending accommodation solutions where such needs are identified.

The council allocates additional teaching and other resources in accordance with my Department's resourcing policies to support the special educational needs of children with disabilities. 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. In the case of decisions on additional teaching and SNA support, 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.

Where a school wishes to establish a special class in order to meet the special educational needs of children with disabilities, an application must be submitted to the relevant SENO.

Funding for accommodation requirements for special needs pupils is provided under the overall capital allocation for primary and post primary schools. It is part of the SENO's remit to make a recommendation to the school planning section of my Department regarding an accommodation solution where a need arises. The school planning section will assess the need for such accommodation in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. The provision of accommodation for special needs pupils attracts a band 1 rating, the highest rating possible.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is within the mandate of the NCSE to make permanent the role of any special needs assistant whom they have assigned to a specific school; if the NCSE has the power to make special needs assistant positions permanent or where this responsibility lies; the criteria that must be satisfied in order for such special needs assistant positions to be made permanent; the application processes that are in place for schools and staff members that wish to establish permanent special needs assistant positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26814/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is within the mandate of the NCSE to make permanent the role of any special needs teachers who have been assigned to specific schools; if the NCSE has the power to make special needs teachers permanent or where this responsibility lies; the criteria which must be satisfied in order for such special needs teachers to be made permanent; the application processes in place for schools and staff members who wish to establish permanent special needs teaching posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26815/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together.

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. It does not have a role in the terms and conditions of employment of special needs teachers or special needs assistants which are matters for agreement between my Department, school management authorities and the relevant trade unions. Since 1 January 2005, the NCSE through local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is responsible for processing 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. Any such support is sanctioned on a temporary basis and is subject to annual review in the light of any changed circumstances and-or emerging needs of the pupil or pupils concerned.