Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 176: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35764/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy maybe aware, 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 all mainstream and special schools. This includes determining the level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support.

The NCSE is committed to exercising its role in relation to the allocation of teaching hours and Special Needs Assistants to schools to support the education of children with special educational needs in a way that is fair, consistent and transparent. The NCSE has introduced an appeals procedure which can now be viewed in full on its website - www.ncse.ie. It is open to a school to appeal a SENO's decision under this appeals process.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a Special Needs Assistant will be appointed in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35778/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 178: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will be issued with a laptop in view of the fact that they urgently need such a device for their educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35779/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 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 (SENO) for allocating resource teachers, Special Needs Assistants and assistive technology to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. On 20 July 2010, my Department sanctioned a grant to the pupil's school for computer software for the pupil in question. Once the pupil can use this software effectively, an application for access to a laptop may be reconsidered.

I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention.