Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Denis Naughten

Question:

280 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the capitation funding provided per capita to children with autism or those with another disability; the total funding provided for children with autism; the numbers involved; the equivalent figures for other disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11383/03]

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

Special enhanced capitation rates are paid in respect of children with special needs who attend special schools or special classes dedicated to children with particular special needs. These special rates can range from €370.00 to €589.50 per pupil depending on the particular level of need involved. Children with autism attract the latter rate.

My Department does not hold statistics on the numbers of children by disability and it is not possible to say how much has been expended on children with special needs by disability category.

Many children at primary school level, with disorders on the autistic spectrum, are capable of attending ordinary schools on an integrated basis with the support, where necessary, of resource teachers and/or special needs assistants.

Where the level of the condition is of a more serious nature, provision is made by way of special schools or special classes attached to ordinary schools. All such facilities receive the enhanced capitation grants and operate at a maximum pupil teacher ratio of 6:1. Special needs assistant support is also provided where required. There are currently 115 such classes for pupils with autism in the primary system. These include three special classes for pupils with Asperger's syndrome which is on the autistic spectrum.

My Department allocates additional resources to individual second-level schools to cater for special needs pupils enrolled in those schools. Applications for resources are referred to the National Educational Psychological Service and each case is considered on its merits.

There are seven facilities in the State delivering educational services on a pilot-project basis using alternative educational methods for teaching children on the autistic spectrum.

The Government is committed to continuing to build on the unprecedented development of special education services, which has taken place in recent years. Our commitment is reflected in the fact that: the number of resource teachers in the primary system has grown from approximately 100 at the end of 1998 to approximately 2,300 at the end of 2002; the number of special needs assistants in the system has grown from approximately 300 at the end of 1998 to approximately 3,800 full-time and 1,000 part-time posts at the end of 2002; in excess of 500 teachers have been deployed to support special dedicated classes attached to ordinary primary schools; in excess of 1,000 teachers are in place in 108 special schools dedicated to children with special needs; 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; the allocation for part-time tuition services for children with special needs has been increased from €12 million in 2002 to €20.2 million in 2003; the funding allocation for special equipment is being increased from €1.6 million in 2002 to €2.26 million in 2003; and funding for the salaries of special needs assistants has been increased from €68 million in 2002 to €100 million in 2003.

These figures represent real and substantial improvements in special education services for children with special needs.