Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the National Education Welfare Board and National Council for Special Education are housed in the NEPS office in Mullingar, County Westmeath; the number of staff employed in these bodies and their grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34042/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have had inquiries made with the National Education Welfare Board, NEWB, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, regarding the information sought by the Deputy. The National Education Welfare Board is in the initial stages of development. Service delivery staff have been deployed by the NEWB in areas of greatest disadvantage and in areas designated under the Government's RAPID programme. There is an NEWB presence in Athlone at present but not in Mullingar. Consideration will be given by the agency to deploying staff in Mullingar as it develops capacity in line with the strategic plan 2005 to 2007.

I understand the National Council for Special Education has assigned two special educational needs organisers to County Westmeath. Both officers are based in the Department of Education and Science midlands regional office in Mullingar. The number and grades of staff employed by the NEWB and the NCSE are set out in the following tables.