John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 608: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an appeal lodged by the board of management of a school (details supplied) against the decision of his Department relative to the three special needs assistants attached to the school will be expedited; if the evidence of the educational and care needs of the children attending the school will be examined; if a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7945/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify for the Deputy that my Department has not taken a decision relating to special needs assistants (SNAs) in the school in question.

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 SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE is independent in the making and issuing of its decisions relating to the allocation of such supports and has its own review mechanism in this regard.

The NCSE will undertake to review a decision taken by a SENO on foot of a request from a school or parents/guardians, when accompanied by relevant additional information such as professional reports which may not have been to hand at the time of the decision.

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