Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason it has taken over two years to sanction resource teaching support to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29851/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if promised resource teaching for fifth and sixth class will be made available within the next six months to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin under the new general allocation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29852/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.

My Department has no record of receiving an application for resource teaching support in 2003 for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. Over 70 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and are a focal point of contact for schools and parents.

The NCSE has confirmed that the local SENO received an application in September 2005 for resource teaching support from the school in question. This was the first application received by the SENO for this pupil. Having examined the application, the SENO has sanctioned 3.5 hours resource teaching support and the school authorities were notified on 13 September 2005. The pupil's special educational needs fall within the low incidence disability category and, therefore, attract an individual teaching allocation.

The new general allocation scheme caters for children with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs. It does not, therefore, apply in the case of the pupil concerned.