Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 526: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the final outcome of the National Council for Special Education review of special needs assistant positions in primary and secondary schools; if she will provide an update of figures released by the NCSE on 31 March 2010 relating to the withdrawal of SNA positions in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20175/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has published its report on the Review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Allocation to Schools April 2009 – March 2010 on its website www.ncse.ie. A small number of schools remain to be reviewed and the NCSE has indicated that these will be reviewed by the end of the current academic year. A final breakdown of the outcome of the review will be made available when all schools have been reviewed.

I wish to confirm for the Deputy that 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 SNA scheme will continue to be supported and the NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers and resources will continue to be allocated to schools to meet children's needs in line with my Department's policy.