Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved a special needs assistant as recommended by the National Education Psychological Service educational psychologist. [39016/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been operational since 1st January 2005, and is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs).

My officials have been in contact with the NCSE regarding the special needs assistance (SNA) support for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that 3 hours resource teaching support per week has already been sanctioned for the pupil in question, however, I am informed that this support has not yet been put into place by the school authorities.

A decision regarding SNA support for the pupil cannot be finalised until the resource teaching supports are put in place. The SENO has been in contact with the school authorities on 15th November 2006 concerning the matter and will continue to liaise with the school until a decision has been achieved.