Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, further to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 2 November 2010, and the subsequent correspondence arising (details supplied), if she will explain what the full-time special needs assistants support on a shared basis, means in practice; if it is the decision of the special educational needs officer or the school principal to determine the number of hours special needs assistants spend supporting a particular child when they are assigned to more than one child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44966/10]

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 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 criteria in allocating such support.

Officials at my Department have been in contact with the NCSE who have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is in receipt of SNA support on a shared basis. The NCSE has also confirmed that it considers this allocation of SNA support to be sufficient to cater for the care needs of this pupil in the school setting. Where SNA support is provided on a shared basis this means that SNA support is available to the student as required, to cater for the pupils' care needs each day. In such instances there is no set number of hours allocated in respect of each pupil. Rather, it is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

The recruitment and deployment of SNAs within schools are matters for the individual Principal/Board of Management. The Board is the SNA's employer and the terms of employment are subject to the conditions of the contract of employment. 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. I can also advise that 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.