Charlie O'Connor
Question:143 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants employed by his Department; and the number based in schools on a county basis. [18338/04]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
143 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants employed by his Department; and the number based in schools on a county basis. [18338/04]
View answer152 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the figures for the numbers and distribution of special needs assistants in each of the country’s primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18353/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 152 together.
Approval for the position of a special needs assistant is granted by my Department. The post is sanctioned to help cater for the special needs of the pupil or pupils and is subject to review in light of their emerging needs. Each individual school authority is responsible for the employment of special needs assistants.
There are 5,026 wholetime equivalent special needs assistants at primary level being paid salary on my Department's payroll. To date, my Department has allocated 466 wholetime equivalent special needs assistants at post-primary level. A table setting out the breakdown on a county basis follows for the Deputies' information.
County |
Primary |
Post-primary |
WTE |
WTE |
|
Carlow |
58.75 |
7.36 |
Cavan |
62.15 |
7.23 |
Clare |
184.24 |
18.79 |
Cork |
634.99 |
42.21 |
Donegal |
194.43 |
54.34 |
Dublin |
1,290.79 |
89.71 |
Galway |
221.4 |
40.12 |
Kerry |
140.1 |
10.35 |
Kildare |
242.8 |
11.65 |
Kilkenny |
92.78 |
11.32 |
Laois |
89.67 |
1.77 |
Leitrim |
19.34 |
4.5 |
Limerick |
264.87 |
21.93 |
Longford |
38.04 |
1.45 |
Louth |
102.64 |
8.98 |
Mayo |
147.45 |
19.91 |
Meath |
172.17 |
21.32 |
Monaghan |
33.24 |
10.09 |
Offaly |
85.92 |
14.39 |
Roscommon |
68.23 |
5.22 |
Sligo |
97.98 |
5.46 |
Tipperary |
217.61 |
26.36 |
Waterford |
114.14 |
6.36 |
Westmeath |
135.43 |
10.46 |
Wexford |
128.32 |
2.67 |
Wicklow |
188.38 |
11.98 |
Total |
5025.86 |
465.93 |