Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 509: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has only been allocated 1.5 hours resource assistance per week when they begin secondary school in September 2010 in view of the fact that they currently have five hours at primary level; her views on whether that this should be increased in line with recommendations included in a report compiled by the National Educational Psychological Service; if she will endeavour to have their resource hours increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23184/10]

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 (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to primary and post primary schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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.