Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 June 2016
211. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the report on the review of the special needs assistant scheme has been completed; his consultations with stakeholders as part of the review; if he will publish the report; when the National Council for Special Education will review the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14574/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that recent years have seen very significant increases in the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) which are being provided to school to support children with special educational care needs. The number of SNA posts available for allocation to schools has increased from 10,575 posts in 2011, to 12,040 to June 2016. In the same period the number of children accessing SNA support has grown from approximately 22,000 to some 30,000 by the end of 2015.
The increase in SNA numbers has also been supported by a very significant increase in the Budget for SNAs, rising from €332 million in 2011 to €402 million by the end of 2015.
This has provided for a higher level of SNA support than ever before, which ensures that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
However, it is also incumbent upon us to continue to review the scheme in order to ensure that the scheme is meeting its objectives to support children with special needs in schools, in the intended manner.
A Value for Money and Policy Review of the SNA scheme was completed and published in 2011. This report is available at my Department's website www.education.ie. The report includes details of the extensive consultations which took place with stakeholders during the course of this review.
Following the publication of the this Value for Money Review, in order to provide greater clarity to parents and schools in relation to the SNA scheme, as recommended by the review, my Department issued DES Circular 30/2014 in relation to the SNA scheme. Consultations also took place with stakeholders in relation to the publication of this Circular. This Circular is also available on my Departments website.
As part of its decision to provide further additional SNA posts in July 2015, the then Government requested that a further review of the scheme should be undertaken. The review, took the form of a Focussed Policy Assessment (FPA).
The FPA was designed to review the extent to which the scheme continues to meet its objectives and the extent to which resources are being utilised effectively and efficiently, in line with guidelines underpinning the scheme.
This FPA forms part of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) commitment to the Public Spending Code (PSC) and evidence informed policy making.
Work on the FPA has now concluded and the Draft Report will now be considered by my Department. When this process has concluded the Report will be published and next steps will be considered. Throughout this process, the priority is what is the best form of additional investment for children with special needs and how to provide the best possible outcomes for those children.
