Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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253. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty that schools in south Kildare have in contacting the local SENO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59987/22]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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254. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SENOs in each area of Kildare and north Laois; the number of vacancies in each area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59988/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), Advisors and Visiting Teachers for fulfilling the functions of the NCSE Council.

The NCSE has advised my Department of the following details in relation to SENOs in the areas of Kildare and North Laois. Identification, delivery and coordination of education services to students, schools and families are organised and managed through ten teams across five regions. Each team has a Team Manager.

SENOs are assigned to teams rather than counties and have a caseload of schools for which they are responsible.

The NCSE has a Regional Services Contact list which is available for viewing on: . Kildare forms part of South East Team 2 which has 3 vacancies. Laois forms part of South-West team 2 and has no vacancies.

Each SENO has a caseload of schools for which they are responsible. A number of posts in Kildare are currently vacant and as happens in all similar type situations, a SENO point of contact has been assigned to the area who has been taking phone calls and emails from parents and schools and helping them with their queries.

The NCSE have run three SENO competitions to date this year in an effort to fill these vacancies and are now in a position to assign candidates to this team. They currently have three candidates in clearance for these positions and expect to have the vacancies filled in January 2023.

My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.

I want to reassure you also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.