Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, in view of the fact that there has been no change in the needs of children on the autistic spectrum in a school (details supplied) in County Wexford who were allocated special needs assistants on a 1:1 basis, the reason the allocation of SNAs for autistic children attending this school is to be reduced; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that without 1:1 SNA support, these children's prospects of progressing to mainstream school may be jeopardised; if she will review and reverse this retrograde decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40781/10]

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

The allocation for any school and any adjustments to that allocation depends on a number of factors such as the number of pupils with care/medical needs leaving, the number of new pupils and the changing needs of the pupils. While SNA posts may be allocated to schools in line with my Department's criteria, SNA posts may also be suppressed where a child may leave or move school, or may achieve a greater level of independence.

I am sure the Deputy will agree that 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.

The NCSE has introduced an appeals process whereby schools and parents, where appropriate, may seek to appeal the decision of a SENO in relation to the allocation of resources. Information regarding the appeals process is available on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie. It is open to a school to appeal a SENO's decision under this appeals process. I can assure the Deputy that supports will continue to be made available to schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for such support and children with special educational needs will continue to have access to an appropriate education in line with my Department's policy.