Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 1083: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied) in which a child who has been assessed as having a need for a full special needs assistant is now sharing an SNA with a student who needs a half SNA; if this situation will be reviewed; if this is the norm nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1433/10]

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) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 1084: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the review of special needs assistants placements nationally is based solely on whether there is a need in individual schools; the way in which the review is proceeding and the expected reductions in numbers overall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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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 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts, as outlined in my Department's Circular 07/02, are properly met. This is an exercise in identifying surplus posts which are in the system and which do not meet the current criteria – posts that have been retained when a pupil's care needs have diminished or when the pupil has left.

SENOs are communicating the outcome of the review directly to schools as the review progresses. The allocation for any school and any adjustments to that allocation depends on a number of factors such as the number of pupils with care/medical needs leaving, the number of new pupils, the changing needs of the pupils and any surplus identified. Furthermore schools can make applications at any time with the result that the individual situation of any school can change and allocations are not static for a school year in the same way as are for example classroom teaching posts. The NCSE is independent in the making and issuing of its decisions. Given all the factors involved it is not possible at this stage to predict an outcome of the review.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1085: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the continuity of full complement of special needs assistants are retained at a school in keeping with the requirements as set out by the school authorities in an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1436/10]

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) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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.