Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the SENO will fulfil the recommendations of private reports to facilitate SNA support as per the findings of each report; and if not, the reason therefor. [46226/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The consideration of professional reports is an integral part of determining the extent of supports to be provided for pupils with special educational needs.  However, whereas health reports provide valuable assistance to education providers in identifying a diagnosis or identifying appropriate interventions, health staff have been directed by the HSE not to include references to the specific quantum of educational resources in their reports, but should state the outcome of assessments carried out and the range of needs of the child as clearly as possible.

This is because, while a medical or relevant professional report can indicate the care needs that a child may have, the health professional will not have knowledge or awareness of the current resources available to a school to cater for these care needs, will not be aware of the layout of the school, or have had an opportunity to observe the child in class or observe their interaction with their teachers and classmates on an on going basis.

It is the role of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to process applications from schools for SNA support, taking into account the frequency and extent of the care needs as referenced in the professional report, the manner in which they arise in a school setting and in this regard, the evidence the school can provide to support the application.  The NCSE can also consult with other professionals, eg, NEPS and will allocate a level of SNA support to a school to ensure that the school has sufficient resources to cater for the significant care needs of the relevant children who are enrolled in the school for whom it has been indicated there is a care requirement.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body to which the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is answerable to in cases in which a school is dissatisfied with the provision of SNA access further to an appeal. [46227/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support because the requirements outlined in the Department's SNA Circular 0030/2014 were not complied with.  Schools may also appeal a decision where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.

Whereas appeals will be considered by Senior NCSE Special Education Needs Organisers in the first instance, there is potential for independent oversight in that schools/parents have access to an independent Appeals Advisory Committee should they consider that the operation of the appeals process was flawed or deficient.