Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 782: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the pay and conditions of persons employed as classroom assistants for children with special needs; if studies have been undertaken of the potential to develop the role of the classroom assistant in terms of their input into the child's development; her view on introducing training programmes and career development opportunities for persons in this grade in order to undertake this more developmental work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10588/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy's question relates to special needs assistants. I have forwarded a copy of the current special needs assistant pay scales and conditions for the Deputy's information. The details are available on the Department's website, www.education.ie. The current rates of salary have been introduced following the implementation of section 14.2 of the mid-term review of part 2 of Sustaining Progress, in accordance with which an increase of 1.5% was paid with effect from 1 December 2005. Future payments under Sustaining Progress depend, in the case of each organisation and grade, on verification of continued co-operation with flexibility and ongoing change, maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of industrial action in respect of any matters covered by the agreement.

Since 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, through its network of locally based special education needs organisers, is responsible for processing applications for additional special educational needs resources. The Department has not undertaken any studies of the potential to develop the role of special needs assistants. The role is essentially a care one and educational input is delivered by teaching staff.

Three colleges of education — St. Angela's College in Sligo, Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and Church of Ireland College in Rathmines, in conjunction with the education centre network, have formulated and delivered officially recognised training courses for serving special needs assistants. It is the Department's policy to keep all programmes under review, including those offered to special needs assistants. The Department, in conjunction with the special education support service, will shortly commence this process with the aim of further developing training in this area.