Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a situation that has developed at a school (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5121/12]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the withdrawal of a teacher from a school (details supplied) in County Laois in 2011 in view of the implications for the school and the health and safety issues involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5477/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 240 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support. My Department's Circular 0042/2011 notified school management authorities of the staffing arrangements which would apply in special schools in the 2011/12 school year. The Circular set out that the 2010/11 level of teaching supports would be maintained in special schools for the 2011/12 school year, other than for schools with declining enrolments. The Circular also indicated that the NCSE may suppress a teacher post in schools which have excess teaching posts in order to create a post in a school which does not have excess posts and which has growing pupil numbers.

The special school referred to by the Deputy currently has an enrolment of 18 pupils with a staffing allocation of 4 teachers and 12 Special Needs Assistants. Notwithstanding the fact that the pupils attending this school have very significant levels of need, this is a very high staffing level, with a total of 16 staff providing for 18 pupils at the school. These enhanced pupil teacher and SNA ratios are provided to special schools to support them in dealing with pupil behaviour and individual educational and care needs. In addition, it is open to schools to seek guidance and advice from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in relation to the establishment of whole-school procedures in this area. Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of health supports, including Physiotherapy, to children who require such support.