Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 February 2025
60. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the plans to increase the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants, and special classes to ensure that every child with special or additional needs receives appropriate supports in their preferred school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8426/25]
View answerIt is important to recall that the majority of children with special educational needs are supported by mainstream class teachers, special education teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children have more complex needs, special classes are provided and for children with the most complex needs, special school places are provided.
Budget 2025 provides for an additional 768 special education teachers and 1,600 SNAs to support children with special educational needs across mainstream, special classes and special schools. These additional teaching and SNA posts will support both children with special educational needs attending mainstream classes and children taking up an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special classes, for an average 6 children each and 300 additional special school places.
By the end of the year there will be over 20,800 special educational teachers and 23,400 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,200 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
209 special classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. It is expected that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) will sanction the remainder of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks. Five new special schools are being established and capacity is being expanded in other special schools. Allocations of special education teaching posts for the next school year have recently been provided to schools and SNA allocations will be confirmed by the NCSE to schools in quarter two this year.
