Vol. 487 No. 2
8 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of extra special needs assistants it would be necessary to appoint in order to achieve the recommended ratios set out in the 1993 report of the Special Education Review Committee; and the number of the 12 categories of disability which has the recommended pupil-teacher ratio to be achieved. [3622/98]
18 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of extra special needs assistants it would be necessary to appoint in order to achieve the recommended ratios set out in the 1993 report of the Special Education Review Committee; and the number of the 12 categories of disability which has the recommended pupil-teacher ratio to be achieved. [3621/98]
36 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of extra teachers it would be necessary to appoint to achieve the pupil-teacher ratios recommended in the report of the 1993 Special Education Review Committee; and the number of the 13 categories of disability which has the recommended pupil-teacher ratio to be achieved. [3616/98]
57 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of extra teachers it would be necessary to appoint to achieve the pupil-teacher ratios recommended in the report of the 1993 Special Education Review Committee; and the number of the 13 categories of disability which has the recommended pupil-teacher ratio to be achieved. [3618/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 18, 36 and 57 together.
It is estimated by my Department that approximately 301 additional special needs assistant posts would be required to meet fully the recommended ratios set out in the report of the Special Education Review Committee. The need for such posts extends across the range of categories identified by the committee. At present my Department is funding a total of 272 such posts at an annual cost of £2.75 million. This includes 20 posts which I allocated shortly after my appointment as Minister for Education and Science.
It is estimated by my Department that a maximum of approximately 70 additional teacher posts would be required to achieve the pupil-teacher ratios recommended by the committee. The recommended pupil teacher ratios have already been achieved in nine of the 13 categories, including travellers, identified by the committee.
My capacity to allocate additional teaching and special needs assistant posts in any year is dependent on resource availability and the level of competing demand across the special needs area. I have to establish priorities and deploy resources to best effect. As far as the current school year is concerned, decisions regarding the allocation of available resources had already been taken by my predecessor.
I am fully aware of the work that remains to be done if we are to achieve the ratios recommended by the Special Education Review Committee. I assure the House of my commitment to this process. I am reviewing provision across the special needs area to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible. The issues raised by the Deputies will be a key element of this review.
Will the Minister give a commitment that the deficiencies in relation to special needs assistants, in particular, without whom it is difficult for children with disabilities to participate fully at school, will receive a high priority? Does he accept that the needs of children with disabilities in our education system have been down played? In the context of the Education (No. 2) Bill, 1997, does he accept the criticism that the amendments he has made to the previous wording to remove the clear commitments to children with special needs should be addressed on Committee Stage of the Bill?
I reject that criticism, which we can debate in the context of the Education (No. 2) Bill, 1997, particularly on Committee Stage. The Deputy said the issue has been down played in recent times. I do not know if that is a reflection on his party when in Government. Progress has been made since the SERC was established. The establishment of this committee was perhaps the most important development in the area of special needs education. My colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, deserves credit for that because it established a benchmark. I also pay tribute to my predecessor and others. It is heartening to note that in nine of the 13 categories we have reached the pupil teacher ratios and that in the remaining four, we are about one or two short.
As regards the child care assistant area, I agree it was neglected in recent years. We should do more, and it is one of my priorities, particularly since there is more integration in mainstream education. Where possible more parents are correctly having their children educated in their local parish school. That has major implications for resources along the line. We need resources to help children with special needs and we have made provision in the Education (No. 2) Bill, 1997.
The increase of less than 10 per cent in the provision for special education in this year's Estimates, which bear the Minister's mark, was one of the smallest and should be compared with the increase of 23 per cent in the budget for third level education. The Minister said that this area is one of his priorities, but will he agree that his actions do not show this to be the case?
Absolutely not. When I took up office——
I am talking about the Minister's Estimates.
I will tell the Deputy about them. The previous Government had placed an obligation on the parents of children attending special schools to raise 15 per cent of the capital cost of refurbishment. When I discovered this I immediately reduced the figure to 5 per cent.
On the practical implementation of policies relating to special education——
What is the provision for special needs assistance?
Please allow the Minister to reply.
The policy began by the then Minister, Deputy O'Rourke, of retaining teachers who became available as a result of falling enrolments has enabled successive Governments to improve the situation pertaining to special education. This is where the resources came from last year for a number of initiatives and that is where they will come from this year. It is wrong to say there has been a reduction in the provision for special education.
I did not say that. I said that the Estimates do not show that this is a priority area.
There was an increase——
I would prefer if the Minister did not reply to questions raised by way of interruption.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
