Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1109: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a full time special needs assistant will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33049/09]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1110: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a laptop will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33050/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1109 and 1110 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. My Department has no record of receiving a recommendation for a laptop for the child in question.

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 details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Technical Guidance Documents require that all new school buildings and extensions are designed to cater for persons with varying ranges of physical ability and to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by design limitations. These guidance documents state that at least one car-parking space near the main entrance should be provided for disabled users and the number of reserved spaces should be in accordance with the Building Regulations and the National Disability Authority guidelines. Parking provision should be as stated in the guidance documents, subject to the planning requirements of the relevant Local Authority.

In the case of older schools where the school authority is not in a position to provide the required amount of parking spaces for disabled users, application under the Emergency Works Scheme may be made to my Department for funding to provide same.