Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of special needs assistants and parents of children in need of such assistants that the method being used to determine time allocation in such instances is totally unsatisfactory; if she will make a statement on the guidelines that should be used in such instances and the person who should be notified before such decisions are implemented. [39403/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if school inspectors are informed of decisions in regard to special needs assistants' allocation of hours before decisions are made to change such allocation; the line of responsibility in regard to such decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39438/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 311 together.

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, SEN, supports. I can confirm that the schools inspectorate has no responsibilities in this regard and there is no reason it would need to be involved in this process.

I am not aware of any particular concerns of special needs assistants, SNAs, or parents relating to the allocation of SNA posts. An application for SNA support is made to the local special education needs organiser, SENO, by the school on behalf of the pupil. The SENO will consider the application and where the care needs of the pupil have been clearly identified in a professional report and the criteria for the allocation of such support as outlined in Department circular 07/02 is met, the support will be granted and the school will be informed of the decision. The parents will also be notified by either the principal or the principal and the SENO. The support may be granted on an individual or shared basis depending on the care needs of the child. It is envisaged that each decision will be reviewed at least on a yearly basis but they may be reviewed in a shorter timeframe if necessary, for example, if new relevant information is available.