Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 257 of 19 February 2009, his Department's criteria used in allocating special needs hours. [26859/09]

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

I understand that the Deputy is referring to special needs assistant hours. The Deputy will be aware that 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 primary and post primary schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The qualifying criteria for the allocation of SNA support is outlined in Department Circular 07/02 which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. There has been no change in the criteria governing the allocation of SNA support.