Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 231: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the number of special needs assistants approved for a school (details supplied) in County Cork for the 2010-11 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13381/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is very supportive of the SNA scheme. It has been a key factor in both ensuring the successful integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream education and providing support to pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (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 exercise may result in the identification of 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. At the same time the NCSE is allocating additional posts where the criteria are met.

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. 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.

The NCSE is carrying out this review and the SENO will be advising each school, including the school in question, on the outcome of the review.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the staffing arrangements for the following categories in special needs schools as per the SERC Report - emotional behaviour disturbance, severe emotional behaviour disturbance, autism and moderate learning disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13397/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is referring to the in the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, 1993, also known as the SERC Report. The Deputy will be aware that the staffing of special classes is determined by reference to the recommendations outlined in the report. In accordance with SERC the minimum staffing ratios for the classes in the disability categories in question are as follows: Moderate General Learning Disability: Pupil/Teacher Ratio 8:1; Class Group / SNA ratio 2:1 Emotionally Disturbed: Pupil / Teacher Ratio 8:1; Class Group / SNA Ratio 4:1 Severely Emotionally Disturbed Pupil / Teacher Ratio 6:1; Class Group / SNA Ratio 1:1

It should be noted that prior to 1998 children with autism were included in the disability category of severe emotional disturbance. The pupil /teacher ratio for autism is 6:1 and the class group / SNA ratio is 1:2.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council 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 and has the flexibility to allocate additional teaching and SNA support if required.