193 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if a special needs assistant who retires through ill health may be replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1247/11]

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in all mainstream and special schools. This includes determining the level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The recruitment and deployment of SNAs within schools are matters for the individual Principal/Board of Management. The Board is the SNA's employer and the terms of employment are subject to the conditions of the contract of employment. The retirement of a SNA is therefore a matter in the first instance for the Board of Management as the SNA's employer. The replacement of a retired SNA is also a matter for the school's Board of Management, subject to the continuing determination by the NCSE of the overall allocation of SNA support required to support the care needs of pupils enrolled in the school.