Seán Crowe
Question:364 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science when the last survey was conducted on the resources available to special needs schools. [11510/04]
View answerTuesday, 27 April 2004
Questions (305, 306)
Written answers
The most recent survey of special needs provision in primary schools was undertaken towards the end of 2003.
Seán Crowe
Question:365 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to make funding available for employing special needs assistants in schools. [11511/04]
View answerSpecial needs assistants may be approved to assist a pupil who has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or other pupils. The criteria used for the assessment of the need for special needs assistant support is outlined in circular 07/02. The circular may be accessed in my Department's website under "Children with Special Needs". Any application received will be considered in the context of the criteria set out in the circular and the existing level of special needs assistant provision in the school.
Since October 1998 the number of special needs assistants has grown from approximately 300 to the current number of 4,319 full-time and 1,353 part-time posts at primary level. The budget for the provision of special needs assistants is allocated on a financial year basis. I can confirm the allocation for primary level for the financial years 2002, 2003 and 2004 as follows:
2002: €50.416 million
2003: €103.611 million
2004: €119.897 million
My Department is at present reviewing existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. In that context, my officials have been involved in ongoing discussions on the matter with representative interests. At this stage it would be premature to anticipate the outcome. The basic purpose of that review is to ensure that each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special educational needs.