Written answers

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Department of Education and Skills

School Staffing

8:00 pm

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the withdrawal of special needs assistant services from a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11995/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Firstly, I wish to advise the Deputy that Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations are not permanent, as the level of SNA support allocated to a school may be increased or decreased as pupils who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. They are also decreased where a child's care needs may have diminished over time.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. This now includes a requirement for the NCSE to have regard to an overall cap on the number of SNA posts.

I have therefore referred this query to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

The NCSE has issued a circular to all schools advising of the allocation process for the 2011/2012 school year. A key feature of the amended scheme will be to provide for an annual allocation of Special Needs Assistant support to eligible schools. The NCSE has asked schools to submit all applications for SNA support to them by 18th March, 2011 and intend to inform schools of their annual SNA allocation as soon as possible, in advance of the coming school year.

As such, the school referred to by the Deputy will be advised of its allocation of SNA support for the coming school year, taking into account the care needs of all the pupils attending the school and any new entrants.

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