A primary school in the Ballinasloe area got good news recently with the announcement that it is to retain its special needs assistant.
Deputy Paul Connaughton was informed about Cappataggle national school by the National Council for Special Education. The Fine Gael TD had made a strong case for the retention of the full time post to the Minister for Education.
“Following a review by the NCSE it was rightly decided that the position was vital for the efficient running of the school into the future,” says Deputy Connaughton.
“In his reply Declan Farrell, operations manager for the NCSE, said you may be aware the NCSE was requested by the DES [Department of Education and Science] to arrange for its special educational needs organisers to review special needs assistant allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts are properly met.
“The outcome of the review in Cappataggle NS was that there would be no change in the allocation of SNA support and the current allocation of one full time post would remain in place.”
