Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the commitment in the programme for Government to review the allocation of special needs assistants will necessitate a new review of their role; if the findings of the review currently being conducted by the National Council for Special Education will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37082/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment in the Renewed Programme for Government to review the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) is intended to ensure that the policy of allocating SNAs to support children with special educational needs is working and to provide a basis on which more informed policy decisions can be made.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is at present carrying out a review of SNA allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria as outlined in my Department's Circular 07/02 governing the allocation of such posts are properly met. This review is intended to ensure a consistent application of the criteria in all schools. The SENOs convey the outcome of the reviews directly to schools.

The Deputy will also be aware that my Department is separately carrying out a Value for Money and Policy Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme. This is a comprehensive review of the rationale for the scheme, including the role of the SNA and will provide a basis on which more informed policy decisions can be made in relation to the scheme. It is expected that this review will be completed by the end of 2009. A final report will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.