Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has found it possible to make adequate provision for children with special needs throughout mainstream education; if he has identified any particular areas in respect of which he proposes to address any emerging issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50294/13]
View answerExpenditure supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs in 2013 is some €1.3bn, which represents approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department. These resources have been protected despite the ongoing severe financial position and a requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas. This level of expenditure includes provision for 10,575 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), over 10,700 Learning Support and Resource Teachers along with 740 Special Classes attached to mainstream schools and ensures that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers in mainstream education, in accordance with the intent of the EPSEN Act.
The NCSE recently published comprehensive policy advice on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs. As suggested in the report, I have requested the NCSE to establish a Working Group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new allocation model for teaching supports based on the profiled needs of children in schools.
