Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 222: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of assessments carried out by National Educational Psychological Service psychologists where a recommendation was made that the child in question should receive additional resources, but where that recommendation was then overruled by a SENO; and if the relevant information for the past five years could be outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31376/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. With effect from the 1st January 2005, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The SENOs operate within my Department's policy parameters in considering these applications and convey decisions directly to the schools. My Department's policy parameters include resource levels which are considered appropriate to meet the needs of children with different categories of special need. While a professional report may from time to time make a particular recommendation for resource levels the SENO also needs to take account of the resource levels already available to a particular school. In addition full consideration is given to any exceptional cases.