Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants in schools in Cork county and city in September of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32523/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants in Cork city and county is not readily available in the requested format.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed in schools in September of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32524/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to meet the requirements of pupils who were provided with the services of special needs assistants in the event of the number of special needs assistants in their school being reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33464/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 319: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils entitled to special needs assistants in schools in September of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33465/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 320: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her policy on the allocation of special needs assistants to schools; the approval of pupils for the service provided by special needs assistants and the way these policies have changed in view of the restrictions on the number of SNAs that now exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33466/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, and 318 to 320, inclusive, together.

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 (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

I wish to clarify for the Deputy that there has been no change to the policies which underpin the allocation of SNA support to schools. SNA posts continue to be retained, and new posts sanctioned, where the care needs of pupils meet the criteria for the scheme. However, there is no question of posts being left in schools where they are deemed to be surplus to pupils' care needs. At a time of constrained resources it is essential that we ensure that public resources, both staff and resources, are deployed as effectively as possible. Resources left in an area that are not in accordance with criteria mean public resources are not available for another deserving area.

I am providing information to the Deputy in relation to the number of SNAs as at the end of December in each of the years in question. The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of SNA posts in September of each year is not readily available. I can confirm for the Deputy that there were 9,824 whole-time equivalent SNAs employed in schools at end-December 2007; 10,442 at end-December 2008 and 10,342 at end-December 2009. There were 10,348 whole-time equivalent SNAs employed in schools at end-June 2010.

I have arranged for the details requested by the Deputy in relation to pupils in receipt of SNA support to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.