Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of special needs assistant hours that have been allocated in County Carlow for the school year 2011-12; and the way this compares to 2010-11. [19682/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the allocation of special needs assistants hours to schools in County Carlow in the 2010/11 school year compared with the allocation for the 2011/12 school year is not readily available.

SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. The class teacher is responsible for educating all pupils in their class, including any pupil with a special educational need. In this task, the teacher may be supported by a learning support teacher and/or resource teacher. I wish to clarify for the Deputy that 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. The allocation of SNAs in each school can therefore alter from year to year.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating special needs resources to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers and special needs assistants will continue to be deployed to schools to meet children's needs in line with my Department's policy.