Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 450 of 26 May 2009, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a crisis exists in relation to places for September 2009; the action he will take to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22584/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As I previously advised the Deputy, 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 including the approval of special classes for autism. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the information requested by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their direct reply.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 677: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made to date in relation to the negotiation of the pilot programme for ABA schools; the reason a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow has been excluded from this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22617/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Officials in my Department have met on a regular basis with the relevant groups in relation to the commitment in the current programme for Government to long-term funding for the centres that are in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise that broad agreement has been reached on the core conditions to enable the centres to be recognised as special schools for children with autism and discussions are ongoing in relation to existing contractual arrangements. I wish to clarify that the discussions are solely in relation to the centres which are part of the pilot scheme. The school in question is not involved in these discussions as it is not part of the pilot scheme and already has special school status.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 678: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will facilitate the allocation of additional hours for a special needs assistant in a school to assist in the education of a child (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22637/09]

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), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports including special needs assistants. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. In this context, I wish to advise the Deputy that SNA posts are allocated to schools to assist with the care needs of pupils with disabilities.

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. I have arranged for the information provided by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their direct reply.