Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the criteria a school board of management must adhere to for their school to obtain a language class; if funding is available from her Department for such classes; the number of such classes that receive funding to date; the geographical spread of the classes; the cost to her Department of such classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31185/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes applications for the establishment of special classes. Responsibility for enrolment to these classes rests with the individual school authority. The qualifying criteria for enrolment in speech and language classes is outlined in my Department Circular 0038/2007 — Criteria for Enrolment for Pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD), Appendix 1, which may be accessed on my Department's website, www.education.ie.

I can confirm that there are currently 59 special classes for children with specific speech and language disorder in primary schools nationwide. The classes operate at a pupil teacher ratio of 7:1.

I will arrange to send a list of these classes and also a copy of the Department circular 0038/2007 to the Deputy.