Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
346. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the total number of special teachers in 2023-2024; the provisional allocation for special teachers for 2024-2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19335/24]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs.
At the end of March 2024, there are over 14,520 Special Education Teacher posts allocated to mainstream schools which is an increase of 49.8% on the number in the education system since 2011. The tabular breakdown at March 2024 is provided below.
At present for the 2024/25 school year there is a total of 14,600 SET teachers provisionally allocated to mainstream schools and this will increase to approx. 14,750, an increase of in excess of 51% on 2011 numbers, ahead of the start of the 2024/25 school year when the NCSE reviews and the projected enrolment post process is completed at the end of May.
Similar tabular data for 2024/25 school year will not be available until the above processes are completed at the end of May.
|
SET Mainstream Allocation |
|
|
County |
Total |
|
|
Posts |
|
Carlow |
193 |
|
Cavan |
211 |
|
Clare |
357 |
|
Cork |
1,823 |
|
Donegal |
530 |
|
Dublin |
3,568 |
|
Galway |
893 |
|
Kerry |
474 |
|
Kildare |
671 |
|
Kilkenny |
242 |
|
Laois |
276 |
|
Leitrim |
92 |
|
Limerick |
712 |
|
Longford |
147 |
|
Louth |
422 |
|
Mayo |
399 |
|
Meath |
557 |
|
Monaghan |
188 |
|
Offaly |
277 |
|
Roscommon |
216 |
|
Sligo |
176 |
|
Tipperary |
518 |
|
Waterford |
328 |
|
Westmeath |
296 |
|
Wexford |
498 |
|
Wicklow |
461 |
|
Total |
14,527 |
