Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Seán Crowe

Question:

126 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the fact that the proposed cuts in special needs teachers at primary school level will have disastrous consequences for children across the State; and whether it is another sign of the under funding of primary education by the Government. [26922/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

There are no proposed cuts in special needs teachers. This Government is fully committed to ensuring that children who have been professionally assessed as having special educational needs will continue to receive the supports they require to enable them to participate fully in the education system.

The Government's commitment to building on the unprecedented development of special education services which has taken place in recent years is reflected in the following facts: that the number of resource teachers in the primary system will have grown from approximately 100 at the end of 1998 to a projected 2,300 by the end of this year; that the number of special needs assistants in the system will have grown from approximately 300 at the end of 1998 to a projected 3,800 full-time and 1,000 part-time posts; that in excess of 500 teachers have been deployed to support special dedicated classes attached to ordinary primary schools; that in excess of 1,000 teachers are in place in 108 special schools dedicated to children with special needs; that approximately €30 million is being spent annually on the special school transport service and a further €4.4 million on the special escort service for children with disabilities; that the allocation for part-time tuition services for children with special needs is being increased from €12 million in 2002 to €19 million in 2003; that the funding allocation for special equipment is being increased from €1.6 million in 2002 to €2.26 million in 2003; and that funding for the salaries of special needs assistants is being increased from €68 million in 2002 to €100 million in 2003.

These figures represent real and substantial improvements in special education services. They provide concrete evidence of the Government's ongoing commitment to the development of services for children with special needs.