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Special Educational Needs Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Questions (195)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

195. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, information on the following for each year, 2011, 2012, and 2013, the total number of whole time equivalent special needs assistants, the total number of hours allocated to that national complement of whole time equivalent positions, the total number of children allocated a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16253/14]

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Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. The previous Government capped the number of SNA posts at 10,575 in December 2010. That cap remained in place until December 2013. In December 2013, this Government agreed to increase the cap on the number of SNA posts by 390 posts to 10,965 at the end of 2014. Over 23,000 children access SNA services.

The total number of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) SNA posts currently allocated by the NCSE is 10,656 posts including 8,537 posts at primary level and 2,119 posts at post primary level.

The total number of WTE SNA posts at the end of the 2011/12 was 10,320 including 8,315 at primary level and 2,005 at post primary level. The total number of WTE SNA posts at the end of the 2012/13 was 10,487 including 8,435 at primary level and 2,052 at post primary level. A whole time equivalent SNA post equates to 32 hours per week.

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 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.

The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support. The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

SNA Resources

2011

2012

2013

2014

Number of Special Needs Assistants

10,117

(10,320)*

10,390

(10,487)*

10,585 (end-Dec 2013)

10,656 (end-April 2014)

Pupils supported by SNAs

Over 22,000

Over22,000/

Over 23,000

Over 23,000

Allocation process in train

*The SNA figures for 2011 and 2012 show the allocation at the end of the calendar year as well as the figures for the respective school years (in brackets).

The figures for 2013 and 2014 show the number of SNA posts allocated to date in the 2013/14 school year. Figures provided for the 2011/12 and 2012/13 school years, with the overlap occurring and indicated in 2012.

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