Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that in the review of the school funding due to be carried out by the National Council for Special Education that no further cuts will be applied which will effect the future of the special needs assistants at schools (details supplied) in County Wexford. [28100/12]

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.

All schools, including the schools referred to by the Deputy, were advised to apply to the NCSE for SNA support for the 2012/13 school year by 16th March, 2012.

In considering applications for SNA support for the new school year, the NCSE will take 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.

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.

I understand that the review of SNA support at the schools referred to by the Deputy will be completed shortly. Schools will be advised by the NCSE of their SNA allocation for the 2012/13 school year in the coming weeks.