Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013
89. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will 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. [25045/13]
View answer103. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional students he expects in the primary and secondary system from September 2013; if he will increase the number of special needs assistants and resource teachers to match demand and avoid services to existing students being cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25491/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 103 together.
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. Approximately 10,000 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.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of resource teaching hours and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.
All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March 2013. The NCSE are currently processing these applications and schools will be notified by SENOs of their resource teaching and SNA allocation for 2013/14 in advance of the coming school year, based on the number of valid applications received. As part of the assessment of applications received for 2013/14, the NCSE will be in a position to consider whether there has been increased demand for supports this year, arising from demographic growth or other factors, and will be in a position to advise of the demand for supports for the coming school year.
The position in relation to the allocations which will be made to schools 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.
