David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he considered the recommendations and conclusions of the 2005 report of his Department's inspectorate, An Evaluation of Special Classes for Pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder, when he made his decision to close a large number of special classes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19264/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify for the Deputy that no special classes for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder have closed as a result of the 2005 Evaluation of Special Classes for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD) report.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes applications for the establishment of special classes for SSLD. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. There are currently 62 special classes in place to support children with specific speech and language disorder. Each class can cater for up to 7 children and children have access to a speech and language therapist through the HSE.

Following the publication of the evaluation report, my Department issued a circular to schools clarifying the criteria for enrolment in SSLD classes and other related matters.

A number of teachers were recently withdrawn from schools with classes for children with a mild general learning disability where the number of children in those classes had fallen below the number required for those teaching posts. This is a separate category of class to the Specific Speech and Language Disorder classes to which the Deputy refers in his question.