Seamus Kirk
Question:203. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of the number of special needs assistants employed from 2011 to 2014, on a county basis. [7355/15]
View answerWednesday, 18 February 2015
Questions (203)
Written answers
The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in schools on a county basis is not readily available.
The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2011 to 2014 is available in the attached document. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the special schools details.
SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. The class teacher is responsible for educating all pupils in their class, including any pupil with a special educational need. In this task, the teacher may be supported by a learning support teacher and/or resource teacher. As a result, the allocation of SNAs in each school can alter from year to year. Some schools may receive an increased allocation, while others may experience a reduction because the allocation of supports are provided in line with the needs of individual schools.
The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating special needs resources to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers and special needs assistants will continue to be deployed to schools to meet children's needs in line with my Department's policy.
Number of Special Needs Assistants
|
Year |
Number of Special Needs Assistants in Primary schools |
Number of Special Needs Assistants in Post Primary Schools, including ETBs. |
|
2011 |
8,102 |
1,952 |
|
2012 |
8,297 |
2,029 |
|
2013 |
8,420 |
2,103 |
|
2014 |
8,708 |
2,195 |