Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the full allocation of special needs assistants is made in 2011 as provided for in this year's financial allocation, that any changes brought about to the special needs assistants scheme following the recent value for money review are implemented in a way that ensures that those pupils that need an assistant are allocated an SNA. [22034/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to confirm for the Deputy that 10,575 whole time equivalent (wte) Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts are being provided for primary, post-primary and special schools for the coming school year in order to support the care needs of pupils with disabilities. This is a significant number of posts and unlike other areas of the public sector vacancies are being filled up to this number. For example, it represents an increase over the December 2010 position where 10,543 posts were sanctioned and in place.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has published a Value for Money and Policy Analysis review of the Special Needs Assistant scheme. This review is available on my Departments website: www.education.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, it is clear 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. The review did not recommend a change in the role of the SNA. The DES is currently establishing a working group which will consider and implement the recommendations of the SNA Value for Money report.