Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to set up a language unit in the main population area of Newbridge and-or Naas in County Kildare, given that the county has one of the highest populations with no language unit and that many families in the Kildare area have children with severe speech and language impairment and have been refused special needs assistants and resource hours allocations in their schools, and have instead been offered places in language units in Tallaght in Dublin 24 or in Portlaoise in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27773/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD).

This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. Applications to establish such classes are considered by the school's assigned Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) and those meeting the criteria for establishment are approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The criteria for enrolment in a Special Class for pupils with SSLD is set out in my Department's Circular 0038/2007.

Pupils who are not enrolled in a special class for SSLD and who meet the criteria for Specific Speech and Language Disorder, as outlined in my Department's Circular, may qualify for additional teaching support where he/she is enrolled in mainstream school.

Pupils with mild speech and language difficulties may qualify for supplementary teaching support from within the school's general allocation of learning support/teaching support. It is a matter for individual schools to use their professional judgement to identify pupils who will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such pupils.

Pupils with SSLD have access to speech therapy services either through the speech and language therapy services provided in the special class setting by the Health Service Executive (HSE), or through the primary care service. The provision of health supports, including Speech and Language Therapy services, is the responsibility of the HSE.

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the NCSE, through its network of SENOs, is available to assist parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. Schools and parents may contact their local SENO using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.