Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the minimum qualification necessary to become a classroom assistant at primary school level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18616/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for special need assistant support are now dealt with by the National Council for Special Education (through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), who process all applications for support from schools and communicate the decisions directly to the schools. The responsibility for the recruitment and employment of individual special need assistants is a matter for each school authority. The procedures for the appointment of special need assistants in primary schools are outlined in Circular SNA 03/03. This Circular can be accessed on my Departments' website, www.education.gov.ie.

The current educational requirements specify that candidates for appointment to post of special need assistant must have been awarded Grade D (or pass) at least, in Irish, English and Mathematics in the Junior Certificate Examination, in the Day Vocational Certificate Examination or in an examination of equivalent standard.