According to the DES, the purpose of the audit is to see if the existing model is the correct one to meet the needs of the students. However, with the current economic downturn, the timing of the audit has raised concerns. Recently, DES used a similar value for money audit to impose severe cuts in the provision of information technology supports in schools.

A total of 100 schools - 80 primary and 20 post-primary - have been selected at random and are being visited between October 2008 and February 2009. The special education needs organiser for the area, the local national educational psychologist and a special education needs inspector will all visit the selected schools for the purpose of gaining an accurate picture of the daily work of the assistants.

The number of special needs assistants (SNAs) has grown dramatically, from 300 in 1998 to a current 18,000. The scheme now costs the exchequer €300 million per annum. The SNAs are on hand all day to help the pupils assigned to them with whatever assistance they require. The needs of the children vary (a pupil could have ADHD, cerebral palsy, physical disabilities or serious learning difficulties) and the amount of access they have to a special needs assistant also varies from a few hours a week to full-time assistance.

Most of the SNAs are employed at primary level. Some school principals have raised concern about the lack of uniformity in the way SNAs carry out their duties, as well as the lack of clearer direction from the department.

About 2,000 SNAs are employed at post-primary level and this number is set to increase significantly under current arrangements. It is reported, however, that some second-level principals feel the money being allocated for SNAs would be better spent in appointing more educational psychologists or teachers.

Clive Byrne from the National Association of Principals and Deputies said there was a lack of clarity as to what the role of SNAs in second level should be. He said that not all second-level students with special needs wanted an SNA to help them at second level. NAPD welcomes the current audit, he added, and will co-operate fully with it. (Sources: Irish Times, Irish Independent)