Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1029. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants that were employed in County Meath in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40531/21]
View answer1030. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants that were employed in County Westmeath in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40532/21]
View answer1031. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants that were employed nationwide in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40533/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1029, 1030 and 1031 together.
The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government.
The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels.
My Department will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of its total educational budget on making additional provision for children with special educational needs in 2021.
This represents an increase of over 50% in total expenditure since 2011, at which point €1.247 Billion per annum was provided.
Following Budget 2021, it is expected that a total of 18,000 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts will have been allocated to primary, post primary and special schools by the end of this year..
This will represent an increase of increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
The NCSE publish statistics on SNA allocations to primary, post primary and special schools in tabular form, by county, for each school year, this information is available on their website, www.ncse.ie.
