Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 403: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the discussions she has had with a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in respect of special needs assistants; if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of the wider community in this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19218/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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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 NCSE operates within my Department' s policy in allocating this support.

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 Special Needs Assistants (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.

In the case of the school in question, 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. This process is ongoing and the NCSE is working constructively with the school authorities to resolve any outstanding matters. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to intervene in the allocation process. Without prejudice to the NCSE's allocation role, Senior Officials from my Department met with the school and parent representatives to establish what additional assistance they might provide to the school.

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. 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.