Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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507. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that has been provided each year since 2006 for the provision of special educational needs organisers and senior special educational needs organisers. [26213/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the Council within a designated area in relation to the identification of and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with disabilities.

The Council employs SENOs to provide a nationwide system of local services. Locally based SENOs consult widely with parents/guardians, teachers, health care professionals, school authorities, HSE and other relevant government agencies.

There are currently 80 employees in the SENO grades in the NCSE. These include 1 Senior SENO Manager, 9 Senior SENOs and 69 SENOs.

Since 2014, the number of SENO posts have increased from 67 to 69 while the NCSE's SENO management structure was strengthened in 2014, with the creation of a new professional post of Senior SENO Manager to directly manage the SENO grades. The NCSE are currently in the process of filling a SENO position which will increase the total number of SENO posts to 81 in 2016.

The NCSE will respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the information sought.