Mick Wallace
Question:71. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ring-fence current funding for special needs assistants in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42210/13]
View answerTuesday, 8 October 2013
Questions (71)
Written answers
The policy of this Government is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support. The level of resources being devoted to supporting children with Special Educational Needs has been maintained at €1.3 billion. These resources have been protected despite the ongoing severe financial position. The ongoing commitment of my Government to protect frontline supports for children with special educational needs is an acknowledgment of the important role played by SNAs in ensuring that children with special needs can progress and develop and be included, where appropriate, in mainstream school settings. This level of spending has been protected despite the ongoing severe financial position. There has been no reduction in the number of SNA posts in the 2013/14 school year. As budget considerations are ongoing, I am not in a position at this point to anticipate any future budgetary or expenditure provisions.