Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of WTE special educational needs organisers currently in place in County Wexford. [37846/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Following the allocation of an additional €13 million for the expansion of services within the NCSE, the NCSE has examined the various roles and responsibilities within the organisation. This has culminated in a workforce & organisational plan underpinning the recruitment of extra staff and guiding the transformational change in the NCSE structure, to provide more direct and responsive focus within the community.

At local level, the NCSE is increasing the number of support teams available to parents and schools, throughout the country, from a 10 team structure to a 20 team structure. All SENO grades are now assigned on a county basis and will undertake caseloads associated with that county only, and on a reduced caseload basis. To support these staff, there will be more administrative staff to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families. This will allow for an integrated community-based service which is conducive to the development of key relationships between NCSE staff, parents, and schools in the provision of services to students.

In Wexford, there are 4 SENOs assigned to the county, all of which are in place. The additional administrative support and revised caseload allocations in addition to the SENOs will provide comprehensive cover for county Wexford. Contact details for all SENOs, together with the area of Wexford which they cover, are available on the NCSE website.