Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to section 4 of Circular 0030/2014, if children are expected to assist in catering for the care needs of their fellow pupils who have special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29253/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Circular 0030/2014 does not state that children are expected to assist in catering for the care needs of pupils who have special educational needs. The Circular states that for a child to require or qualify for access to SNA support a child must have an assessed disability and the care needs outlined must be of such significance that they are beyond that which would normally be expected to be provided to a child by the child's class teacher, support teacher, or other school teachers, or beyond the level of assistance which could be offered to the student by his/ or her fellow pupils in school. The Circular provides details of the significant care needs for which SNA support will be provided.

Over 10,900 SNAs are being allocated to schools to support children with special educational needs for the coming school year. This is significantly more than has ever been allocated previously. All pupils who have been assessed as requiring SNA support to attend school for the coming school year will receive access to SNA support.