Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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516. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding special needs assistants (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40020/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that schools may apply to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in respect of children with special educational needs who have care needs in schools, in accordance with the criteria set out in my Departments Circular 0030/2014 on the SNA scheme.

This circular sets out the significant care needs which normally qualify for SNA support.

Many children with Down syndrome receive access to SNA support in schools. I must advise, however, that SNA support is provided on the basis of the assessed care needs of individual children, as opposed to being allocated automatically on the basis of a particular disability diagnosis.

Schools who wish to make applications for SNA support for children with special educational needs for the current school year may continue to make such applications to the NCSE.