Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to reverse the decision to further cut the allocation of special needs assistants at a school (details supplied) in County Cork, leaving it with only 2.5 assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9460/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Recent years have seen an increase in the number of SNAs from 10,575 posts in 2011 to 12,040 to June 2016. In the same period the number of children accessing SNA support has grown from approximately 22,000 to some 30,000 by the end of 2015. The increase in SNA numbers has been supported by a very significant increase in the Budget for SNAs, rising from €332 million in 2011 to €402 million by the end of 2015.

This is a higher level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support than ever before, which will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child.

The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.

It is important to note that each school's allocation of SNA support can change from year to year and may be increased or decreased as students who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. New students with care needs may, or may not enrol to replace students who have left, for example, or SNA allocations may be decreased where students develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.

I understand that the NCSE carried out a care needs review for this school in January 2016. On foot of this review the SNA allocation was adjusted as a student had left the school to attend a special class. No formal appeal of the SNA allocation was received from the school.

All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year by 29th February 2016. The NCSE continues to accept applications in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. The NCSE will consider these applications and make further allocations to schools in respect of valid applications which have been received to September.

The NCSE will advise all schools of their allocations for SNA support for 2016/17 before the end of the current school year.

All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, while 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.

Details of the manner in which a school, or parent, may appeal an SNA allocation decision is also available at www.ncse.ie.