John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) is still waiting to fill positions for special needs assistants despite the board of management attempting to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13804/17]

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

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocates SNA support to schools, in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, in order that students who have special educational needs and additional care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.

The purpose of the SNA scheme is to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.

The scheme provides for the allocation of a quantum of SNA support to schools, taking into account the assessed care needs of individual children with disabilities, or severe medical needs. The scheme is not limited only to children who have been assessed as having specified categories of disability.

Schools who wish to make applications for SNA support should apply to the NCSE.

At my request, the NCSE have commenced a comprehensive review of the SNA scheme in consultation with other relevant Departments and State Agencies, including the National Disability Authority (NDA) and in that context to:

- Identify and recommend how, in the future, the additional care needs of students, over and above those needs that could be reasonably expected to be managed by teaching staff, should be met and

- Recommend the most appropriate form of support options to provide better outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs who have additional care needs, having regard to the significant amount of State investment in this area.

The NCSE will report to me on the progress of this review in May 2017.

Officials in my Department are in contact with the school referred to by the Deputy and a decision in respect of the appropriate levels of SNA supports for the school will be taken following a review by the NCSE of existing allocations and of students needs in the school.