Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when special needs assistance to cover full school attendance of a person (details supplied) will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47749/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware from my reply of the 7 December 2010, 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.

In considering applications for teaching and SNA support for individual pupils, the SENOs take account of the needs identified in the professional reports and decide whether the circumstances come within the Department's criteria. They then consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupil from its current level of resources.

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 understand that access to SNA support has been granted for this child based on his current level of school attendance, and the NCSE have advised that the matter may be reviewed in light of any increased attendance.

My Departments Schools Division have advised that they have recently received an application from the local Education Welfare Officer (EWO) for home tuition support hours for the child in question. It should, be noted that the Schools Division home tuition scheme is designed to provide a measure of temporary interim educational support for children who do not have a school place. I understand my officials in Schools Division have confirmed to the EWO that the child does not qualify for home tuition support hours because he has a school placement. I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.