Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on figures (details supplied) regarding special needs assistants made redundant in recent weeks. [9664/10]

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

There has been no change to the scheme under which posts of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated to schools to enable them to support the care needs of pupils with disabilities. I wish to assure the Deputy that schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for support under this scheme will continue to be allocated SNA posts. However, where the pupils concerned have left the school or where the care needs of the pupils have diminished, the SNA posts will be suppressed. The SNA redundancy scheme was agreed at the Labour Relations Commission in 2005 and if a post is no longer warranted, the SNA in question may apply for redundancy in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

The Deputy may wish to raise the matter of payments made through FÁS schemes with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 196: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the services that are in place for persons suffering from dyslexia; if there are training courses available to them; the location of such courses and waiting time for entry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9711/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is my Department's policy to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of all adults, including those with dyslexia, in further education. There is a range of courses, both full-time and part-time at FETAC Levels 1-6, funded by my Department and provided by Vocational Education Committees (VECs) across the country.

Specifically in relation to adults with dyslexia, my Department provides an annual grant to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland towards the costs of their adult services programme. The funding is used to provide adult assessments, a specialised tuition course (the Career Paths Programme), test equipment and teaching materials. The Association also provides in-service sessions for adult literacy staff across the country.

The Career Paths Programme is a six month course providing unemployed adults with dyslexia with the requisite basic education skills, including literacy and IT, to enable them to further their education or gain employment. It is provided at the Dyslexia Association of Ireland's centre in Celbridge in County Kildare.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 197: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if special needs assistance services in County Donegal will be rationalised or cut in 2010; his views on the fact that these services are of vital social and economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9713/10]

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. The purpose of this review is to ensure that all SNA posts meet the criteria governing the allocation of such posts, as outlined in my Department's Circular 07/02. As part of this review, the NCSE will identify and suppress any surplus posts which do not meet the scheme's criteria - for example, posts that have been retained when a pupil's care needs have diminished or when the pupil has left.

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 relating to SNA allocations. SENOs are communicating the outcome of the review directly to schools as the review progresses.

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.