Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if they can be reinstated as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7119/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organiser (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs supports such as resource teaching and special needs assistant (SNA) support on the basis of applications in respect of individual pupils.

SNA support is provided specifically to address the care needs of pupils with special educational needs. The nature and level of support provided is based on the assessed needs of the individual child having regard to the criteria set out in my Department's circulars and the other resources available to these pupils within the school.

The NCSE has advised my Department that the SNA post in question was discontinued following the departure from the school of the pupil for whom the SNA allocation was made. There are currently no other pupils in the class who meet the criteria for SNA support. My Department has provided grant assistance to the school in question to facilitate the employment of a part-time teacher to assist the pupils that require English language support.