Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the services of a resource teacher are not being provided for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32316/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has assumed responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. Under the new arrangements, the council, through the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, processes applications for resources and informs schools of the outcomes.

The NCSE has advised that the pupil in question commenced in a special class in Letterkenny in September 2005 but moved back to the original school recently. The SENO then allocated four resource teaching hours to the school to support the pupil. These hours, together with part-time hours in three other schools in the area, will form a new full-time learning support and resource teaching post. I am happy to inform the Deputy that the base school has been informed that the post is sanctioned and I understand the school is in the process of recruiting a teacher. The pupil will begin to receive additional teaching support as soon as the school has recruited a teacher.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the maximum support and advice will be given to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [32317/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I confirm that my Department has received the application for special educational needs provision referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which became operational on 1 January 2005 now processes applications for special educational needs supports. The application in question is being considered by the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers. When this process has been completed my Department will communicate with the person concerned.