Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if the maximum support will be given to the family with a proper back-up service. [23057/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware the pupil in question is in receipt of five hours resource teaching support together with the services of a full time special needs assistant.

The issue referred to in the correspondence attached relates to the retention of a particular special needs assistant in a school. I wish to advise the Deputy that the practice of issuing child-specific contracts ceased in September 2005. All newly appointed special needs assistant posts are related to the special needs of one or more pupils in respect of whom posts are sanctioned, and may be utilised by the school having regard to those pupils and the duties of the post.

A special need assistant's ranking for seniority commences from the date that he/she commences duty as a special needs assistant in the school. The conditions regarding the retention of a specific special needs assistant are set out in my Department's Circular 0059/2006. A copy of the Circular is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.

I wish to clarify that the recruitment and deployment of special needs assistants within a school are matters for the individual principal/Board of Management. The Board is the special needs assistant's employer and the terms of employment are subject to the conditions of the contract of employment.