John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Kilkenny Vocational Educational Committee has refused to establish a special class to cater for eight autistic children, a project supported by him with a grant of €80,000; the information that was available to the VEC when members considered the matter at their June meeting which led them to the decision not to approve the class; if he will insist on the decision being reversed in view of the demand for such places in Kilkenny city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18537/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports including the approval of special classes for autism. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

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 have arranged for the information requested by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their direct reply.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position for school year 2011/2012 regarding the allocation of special needs assistants in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [18581/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 (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.

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 are currently in the process of informing schools of their annual SNA allocation for the coming school year.