Departmental Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Questions (595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

595. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2020 in special classes in secondary schools. [42658/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

596. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2020 in mainstream classes in secondary schools. [42659/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

597. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2020 in special classes in primary schools. [42661/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

598. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2020 in mainstream classes in primary schools. [42662/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

599. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in mainstream primary school classes receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2020. [42663/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

600. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in mainstream secondary school classes receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2020. [42664/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

601. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in special classes at primary level receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2020. [42665/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

602. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in special classes at secondary level receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2020. [42666/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

603. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in special schools receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2020. [42667/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

604. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for SNA support in the 2019-2020 academic year that were unsuccessful; the number of children these applications were in respect of; and if these applications were in respect of a primary school, secondary school or special school. [42668/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

605. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for SNA support in the 2020-2021 academic year that were unsuccessful; the number of children these applications were in respect of; and if these applications were in respect of a primary school, secondary school or special school. [42669/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

606. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for SNA support in the 2021-2022 academic year that were unsuccessful; the number of children these applications were in respect of; and if these applications were in respect of a primary school, secondary school or special school. [42670/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

608. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2021 in special classes in secondary schools. [42691/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

609. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2021 in mainstream classes in secondary schools. [42692/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

610. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2021 in special classes in primary schools. [42693/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

611. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2021 in mainstream classes in primary schools. [42694/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

612. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in mainstream primary school classes receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2021. [42695/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

613. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in mainstream secondary school classes receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2021. [42696/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

614. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in special classes at primary level receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2021. [42697/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

615. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in special classes at secondary level receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2021. [42698/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

616. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in special schools receiving the assistance of a SNA in September 2021. [42699/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 595 to 606, inclusive, and 608 to 616, inclusive, 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.

The 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.

Budget 2021 provided for an additional 990 additional SNAs for allocation to schools, bringing the total numbers to 18,000 by December 2021.

This allocation of SNAs is to meet the care needs of pupils in 2021 and will enable the establishment of new special classes, creation of new places in special schools, support children in mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school 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.

Where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie/for-schools.

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.

The question will be referred to the NCSE for their direct reply.

Question No. 600 answered with Question No. 595.