Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which speech and language requirements have been assessed or determined in respect of each national school in north Kildare; the extent to which such requirements are being met; her plans to meet such requirements in the near future; the extent to which her proposals meet the needs of the children or as set out by the school authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27974/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The issues raised in the question are a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the full extent of the current need in respect of remedial, resource or other special needs teachers at all primary and second level schools throughout County Kildare; her proposals to approve the necessary staff increases to meet this need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27975/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs teachers currently appointed to various schools throughout County Kildare; the number still required as identified by the various school authorities; her proposals to make the necessary appointments to meet these requirements at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27976/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants approved or appointed to various schools throughout County Kildare; the additional number required; her proposals to meet this requirement in full at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27977/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 to 494, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department announced the new general allocation system of teaching resources last May with a view to it being implemented in all primary schools with effect from the start of the current school year. The general allocation scheme is designed to ensure that each school has enough resource teaching hours to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs, such as dyslexia, and children with learning support needs. Resource teaching hours for children with low incidence special needs will continue to be provided on the basis of an individual application for each child.

I am satisfied at this stage that the general allocation system is working well in schools and that every effort is being made to ensure that children with special educational needs receive an education appropriate to their needs and, in this regard, in recent years significant additional resources have been made available to schools to enable them to provide for children with such needs.

Children with more severe disabilities are catered for in special schools which are dedicated to particular disability groups. There are three special schools in operation in County Kildare at present catering for approximately 157 pupils with special needs with a pupil-teacher ratio ranging form 6:1 to 11:1. These schools cater for pupils from four to 18 years of age and each school enjoys a significantly reduced pupil teacher ratio and other staffing supports. Additional special needs assistant support is provided if deemed necessary. Special schools also receive increased rates of capitation funding.

In addition to these schools, I can confirm that the following special needs provision in County Kildare has been sanctioned by my Department to cater for the special educational needs, SEN, of primary school pupils: 11 special classes for pupils with autism at a pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1; five special classes for pupils with mild general learning disabilities at a pupil-teacher ratio of 11:1; one special class for pupils with moderate general learning disabilities at a pupil-teacher ratio of 8:1.

All special classes attached to ordinary mainstream schools enjoy the same increased levels of staffing and funding as are made available to the special schools. Children with special educational needs attending special classes attached to ordinary schools may, where appropriate, be integrated into ordinary classes for periods of the school day and, in that way, benefit from being able to socialise with their non-disabled peers. My Department also provides funding for the Saplings project, a facility sanctioned on a pilot basis which uses applied behavioural analysis methodologies for children with autism. There are approximately 30 children enrolled in the facility.

While children are awaiting a suitable educational placement, my Department may sanction home tuition as an interim measure, if appropriate. At second level, there are approximately 94 whole time equivalent teachers in place in County Kildare to support pupils with special educational needs.

At this stage there are approximately 299 whole time equivalent special needs assistants, SNAs, in primary and second level schools in County Kildare supporting children with special needs. The National Council for Special Education, through its network of locally based special education needs organisers, is responsible for processing any applications for additional special educational needs, SEN, resources. I am confident that the advent of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, will prove of major benefit in ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those in County Kildare, receive the support they require when and where they require it.