Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed at primary and second level schools in Dublin Central; and if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers per school. [21237/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in Dublin Central is not readily available.

The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2007 to 2010 is available in the document set out below. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the special schools details.

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. As a result, the allocation of SNAs in each school can alter from year to year. Some schools may receive an increased allocation, while others may experience a reduction because the allocation of supports are provided in line with the needs of individual schools.

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.

Number of Special Needs Assistants

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed in fee-paying schools in the Dublin area. [21238/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in fee-paying schools in the Dublin area is not readily available.

The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2007 to 2010 is available in the document set out below. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the special schools details.

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. As a result, the allocation of SNAs in each school can alter from year to year. Some schools may receive an increased allocation, while others may experience a reduction because the allocation of supports are provided in line with the needs of individual schools.

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.

Number of Special Needs Assistants

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of requests for special needs assistants that have been made for the coming school year in Dublin Central; the number that have been approved; and the number that are pending. [21239/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The detailed information requested by the Deputy on Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Dublin Central for the coming school year is not readily available.

I wish to clarify for the Deputy that SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. 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 or where a child's care needs may have diminished over time. 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 for allocating SNAs to schools. 10,575 whole time equivalent posts are being provided for the coming school year. To manage this limited resource, 475 of these posts will be retained for allocation over the coming school year to address significant emergency cases; new entrants with special needs; or new assessments or injuries acquired during the school year.

The NCSE will advise schools early in the new school year of a review process to review allocation decisions to ensure that correct procedures were followed and that they comply with my Department's policy. The merits of individual allocation decisions will not be open to appeal under this mechanism.

It will be expected that schools, before requesting a review, will be in a position to demonstrate that they have made every effort to manage their allocation of SNA posts to best effect.