Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of general assessments and reviews of the provision of education and related support services to children with disabilities which have been performed by the National Council for Special Education; the detail and recommendations of each report; if the council had performed a review of the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004 or if she has any plans to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41404/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

I have arranged for the matter raised by the Deputy regarding reviews undertaken by the NCSE to be forwarded to them for their attention and direct reply in this regard.

The Deputy will be aware that the Renewed Programme for Government commits to the development of a costed multi-annual plan to implement some priority aspects of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004, focussing on measurable, practical progress in education and health services for children with special needs. All parts of the EPSEN legislation, which have not been commenced to date, will be considered during this process. This process requires consultation with the education partners as well as the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Department of Health and Children (DoHC) and the NCSE.