Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the services of a special needs assistant have been removed from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22212/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs assistants (SNA) supports. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support, which are set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014 and are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year by 29 February 2016. The NCSE also continues to accept applications after that date, in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed.

I announced on the 14th June, 2016 that 860 additional Special Needs Assistants will be available for allocation to schools from September 2016, which is a 7% increase on the existing availability.

This will bring the total number of Special Needs Assistants to 12,900 at a total gross annual cost of €425 million . This increase reflects the growing participation of children with Special Needs in education and will support their full participation and progression within the educational system.

The NCSE advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the coming 2016/17 school year on 14th June, 2016. Details of the allocations which have been made to schools have now been published on www.ncse.ie.

It should be noted that SNA allocations are not made to individual children, but are made to schools to support the care needs of children with assessed special educational needs in the school. SNA support in all schools can change from time to time as students with care needs leave a school, as new students with care needs enrol and as students develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.

Where a school wishes to appeal the SNA allocation which has been made to them, they may do so through the NCSE appeal process, details of which are set out at www.ncse.ie.

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 the NCSE website.

As the Deputy's question relates to the allocation of SNA support by the NCSE to a school for an individual child, I have referred this question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.