Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed in primary, special and post primary schools in Dublin city and county in each of the past five years to date in 2010; the number of special needs pupils benefiting in the area in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41222/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in primary, special and post primary schools in Dublin City and County is not readily available. The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally in each of the past five years and on 30th September 2010 is available in the attached document. The details for each of the past five years are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the special schools details. As the Deputy may be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) took over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs in 2005. Under these arrangements, the NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) process applications from schools for additional supports such as teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support at primary and post primary level. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. SNAs are allocated to schools to enable them to support pupils with disabilities who also have significant care needs. 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 adjusted where a child may leave or move school, or may achieve a greater level of independence. The National Council for Special Education may be able to assist the Deputy with information regarding the number of special needs pupils benefitting nationally. I wish to confirm for the Deputy that my Department is very supportive of the SNA scheme. It has been a key factor in both ensuring the successful integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream education and providing support to pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes. Number of Special Needs Assistants