School Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (708)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

708. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of special education teachers employed in schools; and the cost of employing these teachers. [30539/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

A new model for allocating Special Education Teachers to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools.

There are currently 13,623 Special Education Teachers allocated to mainstream primary and post primary schools, at a cost of approximately €817 Million per annum, for a full year cost.

This allocation represents an increase of 40% in the total number of special education teachers allocated to schools since 2011, at which time 9740 teachers were allocated.