Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if minimum qualification standards have been set for the filling of posts on special needs teams in schools, both in a permanent capacity and in substitute capacity; if she has satisfied herself that persons helping children with special needs have all the necessary skills; and her provision for the development of requisite skills and qualifications. [8779/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there have been significant developments in special education since 1998 involving enhanced levels of provision as well as new structural and legislative frameworks for the delivery of services to pupils with Special Educational Needs. The requisite qualifications for filling Learning Support/Resource Teaching posts and Resource Teaching posts are outlined in section 6 of my Department's circular Sp Ed 02/05, a copy of which has issued to all schools.

With regard to the development of teacher skills, the Teacher Education Section of my Department established the Special Education Support Service (SESS) in September 2003. The service consolidates, co-ordinates, develops and delivers a range of professional development initiatives and support structures for school personnel working with students with special educational needs in a variety of educational settings. These settings include mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special schools and special classes. The SESS provides comprehensive in-service training and support in the following areas:

In-School Support

Individual Professional Development (Face-to-face and through online media)

Group Professional Development Initiatives

Telephone Helpline and E-mail Support

In addition, Teacher Education Section (TES) funds accreditated courses for teachers to develop their knowledge and skills with regard to Special Educational Needs and learning support. These courses include:

Combined Post-Graduate Diploma Programme of Continuous Professional Development for Teachers involved in Learning Support and Special Education, which is available through seven institutions throughout the country and Masters qualification in Special Educational Needs (St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra)

Graduate Certificate in the education of pupils with ASD (St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra) Certificate/Diploma in Education (Special/Inclusive Education) which is delivered online on a collaborative basis by the Institute of Child Education and Psychology and St Patrick's College Drumcondra.

In relation to Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), I wish to advise the Deputy that the TES also funds SNA Certificate courses in Mary Immaculate College, St Angela's College and Church of Ireland College of Education. The TES also fund introductory courses for SNAs in Education Centres throughout the country.

In 2007, over 17,000 training places were provided by the SESS for teachers wishing to avail of continuing professional development in Special Educational Needs and 430 places were provided on accredited courses for teachers of children with Special Educational Needs. In addition, the Teaching Council was established on a statutory basis in March 2006 to promote teaching as a profession at primary and post-primary levels, to promote the professional development of teachers and to regulate standards in the profession.

As the Deputy can see, significant investment has been made in the area of teacher training and upskilling in recent years and I am confident that those helping children with special educational needs have the opportunity to develop their skills in this area where necessary.