Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will elaborate on the findings contained in his value-for-money report on special needs assistants which found an over-allocation of 27% in primary and post primary schools and 10% in special needs schools which claimed the purpose of the scheme was not well understood by either schools or parents, and that this had led to some problems with allocation and also resulted in the role of the assistants being expanded beyond its original intention. [19165/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department has published a Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Analysis review of the Special Needs Assistant scheme. This review is available on my Departments website: www.education.gov.ie.

The Review has shown that the SNA Scheme has been successful in supporting schools in meeting the needs of students with disabilities who also have significant care needs. However, the review has found that that the allocation process is generally not well understood within schools and by parents nor is the purpose of the Scheme fully understood. The review recommended that the SNA scheme should be restated to ensure an efficient allocation of SNA resources and to clarify the 'care' nature of the SNA role for parents, schools and professionals.

My Department is currently establishing a working group which will consider and implement the recommendations of the SNA Value for Money report.