Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 1302: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the best practice in relation to the allocation of special needs assistants to children suffering from Asperger's Syndrome in relation to continuity; her views on whether it is critical that the child retains their SNA for their full period of education in national school, rather than changing the SNA causing serious anxiety to the child (details supplied) involved; and if she will outline policy in this matter. [28987/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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School authorities need to take account of Circulars SNA 15/05 and 0059/2006 which deal with contracts of employment and seniority issues for special need assistants. The revised contract has regard to the fact that all newly approved special needs assistant posts are related to the special needs of one or more pupils in respect of whom the posts are sanctioned, and may be utilised by the school having regard to the needs of those pupils and the duties of the post. The practice of issuing child specific contracts ceased at the end of the 2004/05 school year.

I am of the view that it may be beneficial for a child with Asperger's syndrome to retain the same special needs assistant, but it is not necessarily a critical consideration in every case. The best approach might be for the school management to prepare and manage change where such is inevitable.