Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 359: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a laptop to assist the educational needs of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare suffering from dyslexia and Asberger's syndrome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18638/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South 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 (SENO) for allocating special needs supports to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required and my Department has no record of receiving a recommendation for a laptop for the child in question.

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 by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

In relation to the provision of speech and language therapy services, the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides for these services and the Deputy may wish to contact my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children or HSE directly relating to his query in this regard.