Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will support a matter (details supplied).

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs, including children with Down Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms of the general allocation system of teaching supports if the child's assessment places the child in the high incidence disability category or through an allocation of additional resources if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's circular.

In circumstances where a Down Syndrome child has other associated needs and would fall into the low incidence disability categories, this may automatically attract an individual resource teaching allocation. The number of additional teaching hours allocated would range from three to five hours per week depending on the pupil's special educational needs including the level of general learning disability. Applications for such support should be referred to the local Special Educational Needs Organiser SENO by the school.

I am satisfied that the mechanisms are in place to provide appropriate resources for children with special needs in our schools, including those with Down Syndrome.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the normal waiting time for a child with dyslexia to be given an individual education plan following psychological assessment. [7633/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The development of an individual education plan or IEP is normally a task for a Learning Support / Resource Teacher in conjunction with a pupil's Class Teacher, or in the case of Post-Primary, Subject Teacher. While it is difficult to generalise, in the absence of specific detail and circumstance, it would be desirable, where recommended in the context of an educational assessment, that an IEP would be developed without undue delay. My Department's NEPS service is available to school authorities / teachers to provide advice on the matter.