Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 132: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wexford which stands to lose a full-time special needs assistant form September 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12628/11]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wexford which is awaiting clarification as to its allocation of special needs assistants for September 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12632/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 136 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 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.

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 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.