Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 599: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the rationale used in the reduction of staff levels from 16 to six and special needs assistants from 17 to seven at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if his attention has been drawn to the effects this will have on the school's ability to provide the full primary curriculum, junior certificate, leaving certificate applied, further education and training awards council or indeed operate at all due to health and safety issues; the guarantees that are in place to ensure that all of the vulnerable children in question will continue to have similar high standard of education with parents from Tallaght and Clondalkin areas; if he will meet the staff and parents to discuss ways to ensure that such children will be protected at a time when education was largely protected in the budget under the revised programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7814/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The Deputy will also be aware that the NCSE, through its network of local 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 governing the allocation of such posts 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 where the pupil has left.

The NCSE has advised the school in question that it is to reduce the number of SNAs by four and that this should be achieved by 19th February. The NCSE has also advised the school that it will not alter the level of teaching staff in the school for the remainder of the current school year. The NCSE is committed to engaging with the school authorities and all other relevant State agencies to manage the situation in the short term and to ensure a sound basis for staff levels in the interest of pupils. My Department has already indicated to the NCSE that it is prepared to attend a meeting with the school if this is considered helpful. The NCSE is also arranging to meet with parents individually in consultation with the school authorities.

The Deputy is fully aware that I have prioritised the provision of special education supports to schools. This is a key Government policy. However, this does not mean that resources, allocated in response to various historical factors, are retained in schools ad infinitum. At a time of constrained resources it is essential that we ensure that public resources, both staff and resources, are deployed as effectively as possible. Resources left in an area that are not in accordance with criteria mean public resources are not available for another deserving area.

I am sure that the Deputy shares my concern to ensure that there is a consistent application of policy in relation to the allocation of special needs supports across the country. This is all that is happening at the moment. I can assure the Deputy that supports will continue to be made available to schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for such support and children with special educational needs will continue to have access to an appropriate education in line with my Department's policy.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 600: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason some special needs assistant posts are already being earmarked for removal, even though the review has not been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7815/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 where the pupil has left. The NCSE has advised that the review will be completed by end March 2010.

Given that a number of the NCSE decisions relating to the review were taken in very close proximity to the end of the last school year, the Department of Education and Science was concerned to allow schools some time to put transitional arrangements in place for pupils whose care needs had diminished. It was agreed to allow schools keep these (diminishing care only) SNA posts until the end of last month – 31 January 2010 – to facilitate transitional arrangements. There is no basis for these arrangements to continue. All schools have been fully aware of the review for a number of months at this stage and should have been making appropriate arrangements.

SENOs are communicating the outcome of the review directly to schools as the reviews progress. There is no question of SNA posts being removed from schools where they continue to meet the scheme's criteria. However, there is also no question of posts being left in schools where they are deemed to be surplus to pupils' care needs. Resources left in an area that are not in accordance with criteria mean public resources are not available for another deserving area. 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.