Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide guaranteed resource hours for all children with Down's Syndrome in mainstream schools at all levels. [16111/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 490: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if automatic special needs assistants entitlement will be given to all children with Down's Syndrome at national and secondary school levels. [16112/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs, including children with Down's Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child.

A new general allocation system was introduced with effect from September 2005 under which primary schools have been provided with resource teaching hours, based on their enrolment figures, to cater for children with high incidence special needs such as mild learning disability, dyslexia and those with learning support needs.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has taken over key functions from my Department in relation to special education provision. The Council now has responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. Schools with pupils who have low incidence special needs such as a moderate learning disability or autism may apply through their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) for additional teaching supports. Similarly, where a pupil has care needs that may meet the criteria for the allocation of special needs assistant (SNA) support, such applications should be submitted to the SENO for consideration.

The position at second level is similar in that my Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them to cater for pupils with special educational needs including pupils with Down's Syndrome. The supports in question include learning support and additional teaching support, SNA support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment.

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.

The local SENO will process the relevant application for resources and inform the school of the outcome. It is important to note that in the case of decisions on additional teaching and SNA support, the SENO will outline the process to the school and parents, where appropriate, and will at the end of the process outline the basis on which the decision was made.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her Department's policy in relation to early tuition and support for children identified as having serious special education needs prior to reaching the age of two and a half; and the options she would suggest to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [16119/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has received an application for home tuition in respect of the child in question. Applications for support for such young children are considered on a case by case basis and my Department will shortly be in contact with the parents in connection with the options available for this child. In the interim, it is recommended that the family contact the local health service executive to explore what resources can be made available to this child based on their assessed needs.