Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 587: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the options available to the parents of children with special education needs who fail to secure a second level school place due to the fact that schools are unwilling to accept children in the absence of guaranteed educational supports which were provided at primary level but were not guaranteed to continue during second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5691/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The enrolment of pupils, including pupils with special educational needs, is a matter in the first instance for schools, parents and guardians. The Education Act 1998 requires all schools to have in place an admissions policy for students with disabilities or other special educational needs. The Act also requires schools to ensure that the policy respects the principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents' choice.

My Department provides a range of supports for all schools to enable them to welcome students with special educational needs. These supports include the allocation of additional teacher support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and VECs to cater for students with special educational needs.

The level of resources being made available to support students with special educational needs in the second level system has grown significantly in recent years. In the current school year my Department has allocated approximately 1,641 whole-time equivalent teachers and 1,088 special needs assistants to second level schools to cater for pupils with special educational needs. This represents an increase of approximately 250 teaching posts and 450 special needs assistant posts on the previous school year.

The precise model of provision made available at second level will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some pupils are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and-or special needs assistant support. In other cases, placement in special dedicated classes or units attached to the school may be the more appropriate response. Such special classes operate at significantly reduced pupil-teacher ratios. Pupils attached to these special classes may be facilitated in attending ordinary subject classes on an integrated basis wherever possible.

Under section 29 of the Education Act 1998, parents of a student who has been refused enrolment in a school may appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Such appeals are dealt with within 30 days of their receipt and where an appeal is upheld, the Secretary General is empowered to direct the school to enrol the student.

The Deputy will also be aware that, with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has taken over key functions of special educational provision from my Department. I am confident that the advent of the NCSE will prove of major benefit in ensuring that all children with special educational needs receive the support they require, when and where they require it.