157 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when he intends to process an application for a special needs teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason this application has not been processed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18515/04]

My Department has received an application for special education resources, SER, for three pupils from the school referred to by the Deputy. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, including those from the school in question, have now been considered. The applications have been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. The applications have been further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision. It is intended that applicant schools will be notified of the outcomes of their cases in the coming week.

158 Dr. Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Education and Science when a special needs resource teacher will be appointed to a primary school which is in a hugely disadvantaged area in Dublin city (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18516/04]

My Department has received applications for special educational resources, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy. All applications for special educational resources received after 31 August 2003, including the applications from the school in question are being considered by the National Educational Psychological Service. In those cases, it is intended that the applicant schools will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible in advance of the commencement of the next school year.