Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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455. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the situation in a school (details supplied) which is experiencing demand on special educational resources that far exceed supply of SNAs; and if she will support the application for an additional SNA allocation at the school. [14347/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21. The arrangements include the following provisions:

- 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically roll over into the 2020/21 school year. This means that no school will receive an allocation less than that which they have on the date of issue of this Circular and existing SNAs currently in standard SNA posts can continue in these posts for the next school year in the normal way.

- Schools may apply to the NCSE for additionality where they can demonstrate that the current allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school. Applications for additionality arising from significant new or emerging additional care needs, which cannot be catered within existing allocations, will be dealt with by way of an exceptional review process.

- A diagnosis of a disability, or a psychological or other professional report, will not be necessary for this process.

- The role of the SNA to support the care needs of students in mainstream classes, as set out in Circular 0030/2014, remains unchanged.

It is expected that schools will review and reprioritise the deployment of SNAs within mainstream settings and allocate resources to ensure those with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support. Providing access to SNA support continues to be based on primary care needs as outlined in DES Circular 0030/2014.

Schools may apply to the NCSE for additionality where they can demonstrate that the current allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school. Applications for additionality arising from significant new or emerging additional care needs, which cannot be catered within existing allocations, will be dealt with by way of an exceptional review process.

Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.

The exceptional review process for mainstream allocations will be available to schools throughout the 2020/21 school year.

My Department has no role in making determinations in relation to SNA allocations either in the case of individual children or schools.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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456. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views regarding the situation of those children with additional learning needs who attend a school (details supplied) but due to lack of proper facilities and the ongoing delays in the completion of the new school project are accommodated almost 20km away. [14353/20]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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457. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an ongoing delay at a school (details supplied); and if she will intervene to ensure this is resolved for the opening in September 2020. [14354/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.

The new school building for the project to which the Deputies refer is over 95% complete. There continues to be a very close engagement between Westmeath County Council (to whom the project has been devolved for delivery) and its design team, the Department of Education and Skills and the contractor in relation to getting the remaining elements of work completed during the summer to enable the school reopen for the coming school year. That being the case, the alternative accommodation kindly provided by the school authorities and patron of the other school in question in the last school year should no longer be required for that purpose.

The school authority is being kept up-to-date on progress in this respect.