Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2014
106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs teachers remain available to all schools throughout the country; if any particular areas with requirements above the national average in this regard have been identified; his proposed action regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30021/14]
View answer107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs teachers remain available to all schools throughout County Kildare; if any particular areas with requirements above the national average in this regard have been identified; his proposed action regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30022/14]
View answer108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs assistants remain available to all schools throughout the country; if any particular areas with requirements above the national average in this regard have been identified; his proposed action regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30023/14]
View answer109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs assistants remain available to all schools throughout County Kildare; if any particular areas with requirements above the national average in this regard have been identified; his proposed action regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30024/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 to 109, inclusive, together.
I wish to firstly explain to the Deputy that more resources than ever before are being provided to ensure that the educational requirements of children with special educational needs, including children with special educational needs in Co. Kildare, can continue to be met at primary and second level, and that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers in mainstream education.
Resources which are provided to support pupils with special educational needs have been protected, and in some areas increased, in 2014 to take into account increased demand and demographic growth, despite the ongoing severe financial position and a requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas.
In December 2013, this Government increased the cap on the number of SNA posts by 390 posts to 10,965 at the end of 2014. This will ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.
There will be over 11,000 Resource Teaching and Learning Support posts available to schools for the 2014/15 school year which is the highest number of posts that has ever been made available.
A school-by-school breakdown of SNA and Resource Teaching allocations which have been made by the NCSE to date for the 2014/15 school year, including schools in Co. Kildare, is available at www.ncse.ie.
Resources are allocated to schools by the NCSE on the basis of the assessed needs of pupils enrolled in those schools, rather than by reference to geographical location. Hence it is not intended to carry out an analysis in this regard.
