Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will ensure that all services and resources for children with disabilities are located as much as possible near their homes; and if she will use common sense when putting in services. [41096/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I share the Deputy's views that children with special educational needs should be educated in an inclusive environment with children who do not have such needs unless the nature or degree of those needs is such that to do so would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child or those with whom the child is to be educated.

The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs supports. These supports include resource teaching hours for pupils with low-incidence special needs, based on applications in respect of individual pupils. You may also be aware that a specific function of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local SENOs, is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs. Therefore all necessary supports are provided where the need arises.

It is open to parents to contact the SENO regarding any special educational needs that a pupil may have. Contact with the relevant SENO can be made by contacting the NCSE, Mill Street, Trim, Co. Meath, telephone number (046) 948 6400 or by accessing the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.