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Special Educational Needs Staffing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2013

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Questions (46, 53, 76, 101)

Robert Troy

Question:

46. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will remove the cap on the number of resource and learning support teachers working with special needs students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17560/13]

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Timmy Dooley

Question:

53. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide for an increase in the number of special needs assistants, resource teachers or learning support teachers relative to the increase in the school going population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17534/13]

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Michael McGrath

Question:

76. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will remove the cap on the number of resource and learning support teachers working with special needs students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17545/13]

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Denis Naughten

Question:

101. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he intends to take to address the increasing numbers of special needs pupils at primary level, in view of the curtailment in funding to support such pupils; if he has assessed the impact of the curtailment of special needs assistants on children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17885/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 53, 76 and 101 together.

I wish to advise the Deputies that this Government is committed to the protection of frontline services for pupils with special educational needs.

The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students.

Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion – was spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs in 2011/12. The provision for the 2012/13 school year is in line with expenditure last year and shows that despite the current economic difficulties, the overall level of funding for special education has been retained.

I wish to clarify also that the number of Special Needs Assistants and Resource and Learning Support Teachers has been maintained. 9,950 posts have been provided for Resource and Learning Support Teachers for the current school year and 10,575 posts have been provided for Special Needs Assistants. These are at the same levels as last year.

All schools have been advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year before 15th March 2013 and schools will be notified by Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) of their resource teaching and SNA allocations in advance of the new school year, based on the number of valid applications received.

The position for the coming school year will be considered in light of the number of applications for support received by the NCSE and the need to remain within the staffing limits set by the Government's Employment Control Framework.

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputies that my Department has requested the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to provide policy advice to the Department, in accordance with its role under the the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, on the appropriate nature and configuration of educational supports which should be provided to schools to support children with special educational needs. The advice from the NCSE is expected in the coming months.

It is intended that the significant resources to support children with Special Educational Needs are deployed to ensure the best possible outcomes for students. The advice will be a key input into achieving this goal.

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