Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total running cost of the National Council for Special Education; if he will provide a breakdown as to the way in which this money is spent; the amount that covers administrative costs and the amount that covers service provision. [18693/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was established as a result of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004. The Act provides a comprehensive legislative framework to govern the delivery of services while the establishment of the NCSE is intended to improve and speed up the delivery of services to pupils with special educational needs, their parents and schools. The Act sets out a range of services which must be provided, including assessments, education plans and support services.

The functions of the Council include: carrying out research and providing expert advice to the Minister for Education and Skills on the educational needs of children with disabilities and the provision of related services; providing for a range of services at local and national level in order that the educational needs of children with disabilities are identified and provided for, and; co-ordinating with HSE, schools and other relevant bodies, the provision of education and related support services to children with disabilities.

Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) allocate additional teaching and other resources available to support the special educational needs of children with disabilities and makes recommendations in relation to the provision of specialist equipment and school transport.

The number of staff employed by the Council at year end 2010 was 109, made up of 12 Senior Special Educational Needs Organisers (SSENOs), 75 SENOs and 22 Head Office staff. In 2010 expenditure on salaries for SSENOs and SENOs amounted to €4,788,605 and Head Office staff salaries to €1,367,548 giving a total of €6,156,153. Superannuation contributions of €301,955 were deducted from staff salaries and remitted to the Department of Finance. In addition, pension levy deductions of €426,056 were made from staff salaries and remitted to the Department of Education & Skills.

The NCSE budget allocation for 2011 is € 9.015 m which is subdivided into pay and non-pay at €6.93m and €2.085 m respectively.