Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
77. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the status of plans to ensure students with additional needs in mainstream classes have access to an SNA if they need it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57130/21]
View answerI am very aware of the needs of students with special educational needs who need care support to attend school.
The role of the SNA is to support the class teacher to ensure that children with special needs can access the curriculum and participate in school life.
For this reason, this Government continues to make very significant levels of financial provision to ensure that children with special educational needs care supported to get an education appropriate to their needs.
The State currently spends in excess of 25% of its annual education and training budget (€9.2 Billion) on making additional provision for children with special educational needs.
This represents an increase of over 60% in total expenditure since 2011, at which point €1.247 Billion per annum was provided.
Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022.
545 of these posts are targeted to support students in mainstream classes with the remainder to support the opening of new special classes and special school places.
In overall terms, Budget 2022 provision represents an increase of 81% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.
Since 2020/21, schools are no longer required to submit applications with professional reports for individual students to access SNA support.
SNA allocations were carried forward unchanged, Schools are required to allocate the available resources to those with greatest need.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
Where circumstances change in a school and the levels of care need changes, it is open to schools to seek additionality through an exceptional review carried out by the local SENO.
SENOS are available to support families in relation to their children's education.
