Written answers

Thursday, 21 January 2016

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 15 December 2015 if she will allocate resource hours or special needs assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Louth who does not fall within the specified categories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2637/16]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise you that it is not the role of my Department to allocate resource teaching hours or SNA support to schools to support children with special educational needs. As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent statutory agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in all mainstream and special schools. This includes the allocation of Resource Teaching Hours and SNA support, the criteria by which is set in Sp Ed Circular 02/05 for primary schools and circular 0030/14 for post primary schools respectively.

The NCSE operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The NCSE has confirmed that an application from the school for resource teaching support only, for the child concerned was received and considered by the local SENO but did not meet the criteria for such an allocation. The NCSE has also advised that the school concerned has not lodged an appeal of it's allocation.

Details of the NCSE Appeals Process is available on their website at www.ncse.ie. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

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