Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 April 2017
149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants, SNAs, and the budgetary allocation for SNAs over each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18524/17]
View answerFunding for special education provision in 2017 will amount to some €1.68 billion, which is equivalent to approximately 19% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training and represents an increase in spending in this area of 12% over the last two years.
This year, 13,015 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are available for allocation to primary and post primary schools to the end of the 2016/17 school year, which is an increase of almost 23% in the number of posts available since 2011.
As committed to in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the adequacy of the present policies and provision and their scope for improvement is being examined.
At my request, the NCSE are currently undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme and I have specifically asked the NCSE to identify the most appropriate form of support options to provide better outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs, having regard to the significant amount of State investment in this area.
I can confirm that this Government will continue to ensure that the supports required, to ensure that all children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education, will be provided.
Details of the number of special needs assistants and the budgetary allocation for SNAs over each of the past ten years are given in the following table:
Budgetary allocation and Nos. of SNAs over the last 10 years
|
Year |
€ M |
Number of SNAs |
|
2008 |
298.770 |
10442 |
|
2009 |
328.660 |
10342 |
|
2010 |
314.450 |
10543 |
|
2011 |
340.860 |
10575 |
|
2012 |
339.850 |
10575 |
|
2013 |
347.310 |
10745 |
|
2014 |
349.720 |
11330 |
|
2015 |
386.890 |
12040 |
|
2016 |
401.950 |
13015 |
|
2017 |
Data not available |
Data not available |
