Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any decision has been made regarding the appeal against the proposed withdrawal of special needs assessment posts from a special needs school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26645/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Council for Special Education is responsible for allocating Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of such supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.

In considering the level of SNA support required by a school the NCSE takes into account the individual care needs of all qualifying children, supports freed up due to any school leavers, and the identified care needs of newly enrolled children with special educational needs.

A review of the level of SNA support in the special school referred to by the Deputy took place in January of this year. Based on the number of school enrolments and the individual care needs of the children concerned the NCSE indicated to the school that there was a surplus of SNA posts in the school.

I understand that an appeal has been made to the NCSE in relation to this decision and that this is currently being considered by the NCSE. The NCSE will advise the school in relation to this matter as soon as possible and will advise the school of its SNA allocation for the coming school year.