Finian McGrath
Question:392 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if a number of cuts (details supplied) are going ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25549/03]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
There are no cutbacks in the provision of resources for children with special educational needs within the areas identified by him. My Department's commitment to supporting children with special educational needs is reflected in the very significant growth in investment in special needs provision in recent years, as follows.
The number of learning support teachers in the primary school system has increased from 1,302 in 1998 to 1,531 at present. The annual salary cost of these teachers is approximately €54 million. The number of resource teachers has increased from 104 in 1998 to more than 2,300 currently. The annual salary cost of these teachers is estimated at over €70 million. The number of special needs assistants has grown from 300 in 1998 to 4,239 full-time and a further 1,264 part-time posts. The annual salary cost of this service is estimated at €100 million for 2003. The allocation for part-time tuition services for children with special needs has been increased from €12 million in 2002 to €19 million in 2003.
The allocation for school transport in 2003 is €97.5 million, which is an increase of 18.5% on last year's allocation. Almost 30% of the budget for school transport is being expended to facilitate the transport requirements of between 9,000 and 10,000 children with special needs at an average cost of €3,300 per pupil. Approximately €4.4 million is spent annually on the school transport escort service.
Funding towards special equipment has increased from €635,000 in 1998 to €3.26 million in 2003.
There are approximately 500 special classes attached to mainstream primary schools. These classes cater for an estimated 4,000 pupils. There are 108 special schools catering for approximately 6,000 pupils. These schools employ an estimated 1,090 teachers at an annual salary cost of €43.6 million.
The significant gains in recent years will be underpinned by structural and legislative provision. Towards that end, the National Council for Special Education has been established and the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003 has been published.
Circular SP ED 24/03 issued to all national schools in September 2003. The basic purpose of the circular is twofold: to ensure that applications for resource teacher and special needs assistant support are processed as efficiently as possible; and that such resources are targeted to best effect on an ongoing basis.
The circular is not proposing any cut in resources. Rather, it requires schools to take full account of the resources they already have before applying for more. Any other approach would be neither appropriate nor sustainable.
The resources that have been, and that continue to be, sanctioned by my Department represent real and substantial improvements in special education services. They provide concrete evidence of the Government's commitment to build on the unprecedented development of special education services.
Finian McGrath
Question:393 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if there will be a rights based approach to services in the new Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003; and if the maximum support for all children with disabilities will be guaranteed. [25551/03]
On the enactment and commencement of the Bill children with special educational needs arising from an educational disability will have a right to an assessment, a right to an individual education plan and a right to have the plan implemented with all the services that requires. Their parents will have a right to be involved and consulted at every stage of their child's development.
The rights of the child and parents to services are safeguarded by the right of appeal to the Special Education Appeals Board against any incorrect or inadequate statement or description contained in his or her education plan and against any failure by a school or health board to implement any part of the plan.
Section 8(7) of the Bill requires that the funds necessary for the implementation of education plans will be made available to schools by the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Health and Children with the consent of the Minister for Finance. The availability of services and health and education professionals to provide them will depend on a range of factors and it is anticipated that full implementation will require a number of years, in this regard it will be a function of the National Council for Special Education to advise me on the pace of implementation. In any event implementation cannot take more than five years.