Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of special education needs officers nationally; the number of applications to SENOs for additional teaching support or special needs assistants which have been made each year since 2004 to date in 2009; the percentage of these applications which have been refused every year; the number of applications received to date in 2009; the number of applications refused to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on their role and their budget for 2009 in comparison to previous years. [35367/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs (SEN). In particular, its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinate special needs education provision at local level and arrange for the delivery of special educational services. They act as single points of contact for parents of students with SEN and for schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating special needs support.

There are currently 86 SENOs working nationally in support of children with SEN. This is comprised of 12 Senior SENOs and 74 SENOs. The information requested in relation to the number of applications for additional teaching support or special needs assistants which have been made each year since the establishment of the NCSE, is available in the NCSE Annual Reports, which have been presented before the Oireachtas each year. The Annual Reports are also available on www.ncse.ie/documents.

The application process for SEN supports for 2009 is ongoing and the NCSE is currently compiling the data associated with these applications. Statistics for 2009 will be available when this process is complete and will be published in the NCSE's 2009 annual report. The percentage of applications that were unsuccessful/did not meet the Department's criteria is outlined in the attached document. Details of the NCSE's budget are also included on this document.

The statutory role of the National Council for Special Education and its staff is prescribed in the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004. The detailed priorities and action plan of the Council and its staff are outlined in the NCSE strategy statement 2008-2011. Annual work programmes in accordance with the strategy and within the policies of my Department are agreed by the Council of the National Council for Special Education.

Percentage of applications that were unsuccessful / did not meet criteria

Statistics available from 2006 when the NCSE's database became operational.

NCSE Budget