Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the current requirement of teacher assistants; whether needs will be met in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5528/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 19 February 2004
Ceisteanna (151, 152, 153, 154)
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:151 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he proposes to meet the needs of all children requiring special needs teachers; whether the requirement will be met in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5532/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 151 together.
Arising from a Government decision in October 1998, children assessed as having special educational needs in primary schools have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs. Since the measure was introduced the number of resource teachers in the primary system has increased from approximately 100 to more than 2,500. The number of special needs assistants has also grown from approximately 300 to 4,319 full-time and 1,353 part-time posts.
There are over 6,000 applications for special educational resources awaiting a decision from my Department. More than 5,000 were received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 and they are being considered. Priority was given to cases involving children that commenced school last September. These cases were responded to and we continue to respond to emergency applications.
Processing applications is complex and time consuming. My Department is endeavouring to process them as quickly as possible and will then respond to all applicant schools. A dedicated team, comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the national educational psychological service, reviewed the balance of more than 4,000 applications. They are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of special needs provision conducted over the past year. Account is also being taken of the data submitted by schools as part of the recent nationwide census of special needs provision.
An additional 2,200 applications have been received since 1 September 2003. The arrangements for processing applications received since then will be considered in the context of the outcome of discussions on a weighted system of allocation of resource teaching support. My officials have initiated discussions with representative interests. It would be premature to anticipate the outcome at this stage. The review will ensure that each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special educational needs.
Pending the conclusion of discussions with the representative interests, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03 issued last September. It contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs.
My Department also allocates resource teaching posts and special needs assistant posts to second level schools. A total of 465 whole-time equivalent special needs assistants and approximately 968 whole-time equivalent teaching posts are currently in place in the second level system. They support students with special needs. Additional resources are allocated on an ongoing basis in response to professionally assessed needs. Applications for resource teaching and special needs assistant support for the 2004-05 school year will continue to be considered on this basis.
Question No. 148 answered with QuestionNo. 84.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:149 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science whether he will meet all of the special needs teaching requirements in primary and second level schools in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5530/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard J. Durkan
Ceist:152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science whether he expects to meet special needs teaching requirements in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5533/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 152 together.
My Department will consider applications for special educational needs and supports in the context of the criteria outlined in the relevant Department circulars and the existing level of SEN resources available in a school. My Department's commitment to supporting children with such needs in the primary school system is reflected in the significant growth in investment in recent years. This is illustrated by the following details: the number of learning support teachers in the primary school system has increased from 1,302 in 1998 to 1,531 at present with an annual salary cost of approximately €54 million; the number of resource teachers has increased from 104 in 1998 to more than 2,500 at present with an annual salary cost estimated at over €75 million; the number of special needs assistants in the primary system has grown from 300 in 1998 to 4,319 full-time and a further 1,353 part-time posts with an annual salary cost estimated at €120 million for 2004; the allocation for part-time tuition services for children with special educational needs has been increased from €12 million in 2002 to €31.7 million in 2004; funding for special equipment in the primary school system has increased from €635,000 in 1998 to €3 million in 2004.
The resources that have been and that will continue to be allocated by my Department represent real and substantial improvements in special education services. They provide concrete evidence of the Government's commitment to build on the unprecedented development of such services.