Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of resource or special needs teachers currently required at primary and or second level schools throughout the country, on a county basis as set out by the various school authorities; the degree to which any outstanding requirements are likely to be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24006/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the extent of additional educational facilities other than those previously announced likely to be provided by her Department over the next three years with particular reference to children affected by autism, Asperger's, ADD and ADHD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24022/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of places available at primary and second level schools throughout the country, on a county basis, for children with autism, Asperger's, ADD, ADHD or similar learning difficulties catered for to the extent set out or required by local school authorities; the degree to which such requirements are likely to be met in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24028/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 211 and 217 together.

The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs), co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level. SENOs act as single points of contact for schools and parents of students with special educational needs. Where a need for additional specialist settings is identified, SENOs work with schools to sanction the required special class provision.

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.

Children with special educational needs, including the specific conditions mentioned by the Deputy, have a range of placement options available to them. Many children with special needs, including those mentioned by the Deputy, attend mainstream schools alongside their peers. Depending on the extent of their special educational need, these children may receive support from the school's Learning Support teacher and/or additional tuition hours provided by a Resource teacher and/or support from a Special Needs Assistant. Resource teaching hours are sanctioned by the SENO in line with the assessed disability of the pupils concerned. Other children with such special educational needs attend a special class attached to a mainstream school while some children attend a special school. These children are supported through lower pupil teacher ratios and, where necessary, special needs assistants.

The level and extent of resources provided to support pupils with special educational needs depend on the precise nature of the special educational need of the particular pupil. Supports can include the allocation of additional resource teaching support, special needs assistants, special school transport arrangements and grants for specialist equipment and/or assistive technology. School buildings may be adapted where necessary.

There are now about 20,000 adults in our schools working solely with pupils with special needs. This includes over 10,000 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs); 8,600 resource and learning support teachers; over 1,100 special school teachers and hundreds of other teachers in special classes.

The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment in schools and therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not available within my Department.