Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Needs Assistants.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

502 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost to date of the extra provision made for care attendants and for resource teachers; the number of children who are receiving assistance under these schemes; and the number of staff employed. [23084/00]

Minister for Education and Science

(Dr. Woods): Since the Government decision of October 1998, which allowed for an automatic response to all children with disabilities in primary education, a total of 447 full-time resource teacher posts and a further 4,525 part-time resource teaching hours have been allocated. Over the same period, a total of 1,311 special needs assistants and a further 4,609.5 part time special needs assistant hours have been allocated. The total annual cost of these allocations amounts to approximately £13 million in respect of resource teacher support and approximately £20 million in respect of special needs assistant support.

The equivalent of 70 whole-time child care assistants posts and 240 whole-time resource posts have been allocated at second level at a total estimated cost of £6.7 million.

The information in relation to the number of children who are receiving assistance under these schemes is not readily available in my Department. However my Department is continuing to extend these services in response to assessed needs of pupils.