Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will reinstate the special needs assistants at a school (details supplied) in County Cork pending the introduction of an appeals system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8690/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) 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 and where there are identified care needs arising from a diagnosed disability. 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. This may mean that some pupils who had previously been supported by a full time SNA may have their needs met through the shared support of an SNA or perhaps they may have no need for SNA support.

The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support and conveys decisions directly to schools without recourse to my Department.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 453: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when appropriate educational assessment and resources will be made available for a child (details supplied) with severe learning difficulties with autistic traits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8711/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. 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

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