Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 549: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that in view of correspondence enclosed, special needs assistance is provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath and that they will continue to enjoy the benefit of the special needs assistant that they currently have, in view of the fact that they are making progress and that same will not be interrupted by the recent announcement by his Department in relation to cutbacks of the number of SNAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9894/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify, for the Deputy's information, that my Department has not made any announcement in relation to cutbacks in the number of SNAs. There has been no change in the criteria governing the appointment of SNAs.

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. SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. Applications for an SNA may be considered 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.

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.