Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Down syndrome has the highest incidence of assessed intellectual disability; if Down syndrome will be specified as a category to receive specified hours of resource teaching supported in appendix one of the special education circular; and if same will be made a priority issue. [18849/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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 Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms of the general allocation system of teaching supports if the assessment places the child in the high incidence disability category or through an allocation of additional resources if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's circular.

In circumstances where a Down Syndrome child has other associated needs and would fall into the low incidence disability categories, this may automatically attract an individual resource teaching allocation. Such applications should be referred to the local Special Educational Needs Organiser by the school. I am satisfied that the mechanisms are in place to provide appropriate resources for children with special needs in our schools, including those with Down Syndrome.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 with their educational needs; and if their resource hours in science and English will be increased. [18850/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them to cater for pupils with special educational needs. The supports in question include remedial and resource teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order, 2005. Since 1 January 2005, the NCSE through local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing resource applications for children with special educational needs.

The level of teaching and special needs assistant support for special educational needs is determined by the SENO in accordance with my Department's resourcing policy for special educational needs. In the case of the school in question, the SENO has recommended a total of 35.5 additional teaching hours per week to cater for the special educational needs of pupils enrolled, including the pupil referred to by the Deputy. The NCSE has also confirmed to my Department that an application for Assistive Technology for the pupil in question has been received by the local SENO and is currently under consideration.