Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 673: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the special needs assistants at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he will confirm that the necessary funding is available to the school to meet the current complement of SNAs for the year 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5012/10]

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 (SENOs), 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.

I wish to assure the Deputy that SNA support will continue to be made available to schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for such support.