Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has stated that redundancy payments for a former special needs assistant (details supplied) will take up to twelve months to process; his views on whether this is an acceptable waiting period; the procedures he plans to implement to reduce this waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26451/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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An application for redundancy was received by my Department on 21st September 2011 from the Special Needs Assistant referred to by the Deputy. Applications are processed in date order of receipt and every effort is being made to process these applications as quickly as possible. Applications received in December 2010 are currently being processed.

The priority of my Department's Payroll Division over the past two months has been to ensure that replacement teachers and special need assistants being appointed for the 2011/2012 school year are placed on payroll for payment. This process is now nearing completion. Over the coming weeks, extra resources will be assigned to try and ensure that special needs assistants that are made redundant will have their claims for payment processed as quickly as possible.