Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 740: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the decisions made by a special education needs organiser which confirmed reduced access to special needs assistants for pupils in a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will treat the situation in the school as a matter of priority. [29005/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy may be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. Applications for SNAs may be considered by the NCSE where a pupil has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or to other pupils. A pupil's level of care may diminish over time as the child matures. Pupils may move to a different school or on to post-primary school. In such situations, the NCSE will review and adjust the SNA support required in the school. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE will undertake to review a decision taken by a SENO on foot of a request from a school or parents/guardians, when accompanied by relevant additional information, which may not have been to hand at the time of the decision. The NCSE has outlined this process in its Circular 01/05.

I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.