Written Answers Nos. 536 - 556
536. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of the parents' and students' charter; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26073/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy intention is to amend Section 28 of the Education Act 1998 to require every school to have a Parent and Student Charter according to principles set down in legislation that will set a national standard. As the Deputy may be aware, section 28 is the section of the Education Act 1998 that provides for parental complaints in schools. It expresses a desirability of determining appeals and resolving grievances in the school. I am not satisfied with the current provisions of Section 28. I plan to revise it and to provide in law for a Parent and Student Charter. Changing how schools engage with, listen and respond to parent concerns will be an important part of a Charter. Providing parents with the rationale for any decision is important. If schools help parents to understand the basis for a decision parents are more likely to accept the fairness of decisions. A core objective of the Charter will be to shift away from reacting to problems only after they give rise to grievances. Instead the emphasis will be on improving the day-to-day experience students and their parents can expect from schools so that grievances do no arise at all or are resolved quickly and informally, and as a result having to resort to a formal grievance process should be much reduced. I plan to have this change introduced during the passage of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2015.
537. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to a school (details supplied) in County Sligo which operates from temporary premises and out of prefabricated classrooms, the current band rating for the school given that the need for a permanent building is more urgent due to an increase in the number of students; if a new list of school buildings which have been identified for capital investment is to be published soon; if this school will be on this list; if her Department has requested Sligo County Council to identify a site for a new school; and, if so, the current status of this project. [26140/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working closely with Sligo County Council in relation to the identification of a permanent site for the school in question and potential site options have been assessed. As the Deputy will appreciate, there are commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally and I am not in a position to comment further on the site acquisition at this time. I expect to be in a position to announce a successor construction programme later this year. As part of the preparatory process for the programme, a major detailed demographic analysis is currently underway in my Department to identify the particular areas across the country where additional new schools and extensions will be required to meet additional demographic demand.
538. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for new build accommodation that has been approved in principle by her Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; the other accommodation approval the school has been granted; when the work will commence on approved and approved-in-principle projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26152/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the accommodation brief for the proposed building project has been approved and the project is currently at an early stage of the architectural planning process. The next step involves the appointment of a Design Team and my officials were in contact with the school in this regard recently. The project will now be progressed to the final stages of architectural planning and will then be well placed for consideration for inclusion in future construction programmes. With regard to other accommodation, the school has made an application to my Department for the replacement of prefabs. In light of the progress being made with the major building project, it is not possible to provide funding for the prefab replacement. A letter to this effect issued to the school on 20th May last.
539. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for additional funding to supplement an all-in devolved grant application under the 2014 additional accommodation scheme in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26153/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February, 2014 the school referred to by the Deputy was sanctioned a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide 3 new mainstream classrooms and an assisted users toilet. An application for additional funding has been received from the school authority to carry out works that were not approved by my Department. The school authority and their Design Team are meeting with officials from my Department's Planning and Building Unit today to discuss their application.
540. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when refurbishment and extension work will take place at a college (details supplied) in Dublin 16; the duration of such works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26167/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of the Tender Process and subject to no issues arising is expected to commence on site by the end of the summer. Once the project commences on site the construction programme set by the design team envisages that it will take approximately twenty nine months to complete the full suite of accommodation and refurbishment.
543. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a replacement school for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26225/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's over-riding objective and the primary focus of the 5 Year Construction Plan is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. Total pupil enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by around 108,000 additional pupils between 2012 and 2019. This is over 70,000 at primary level and almost 38,000 at post-primary level. The Department continues to review the most up to date demographic information to ensure that any emerging school accommodation shortfalls are identified and met in a timely manner. In this regard, the Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional new schools and extensions will be required from 2017 onwards to meet additional demographic demand. On foot of this review, arrangements will be made to provide additional accommodation where this is required. Should the need for increased capacity be identified in the area referred to by the Deputy, a decision on how this need will be met will be determined as part of this process at the appropriate time.
544. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, by county, the average class size in all primary schools. [26262/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra545. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, by county, the average class size in all schools under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme. [26263/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 545 together.
Average class size is not readily calculated on an individual school basis. Below is a link to a spreadsheet that shows the number of pupils in each mainstream class and the number of mainstream class teachers for each primary school in county order. Data refers to 2014/15 school year.http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on-Individual-Schools/Class-Size-2014-2015.xls.
546. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the cost of reducing the staffing schedule in primary schools by one point, two points, three points, four points and five points; and the number of additional teachers required to address each point reduction. [26264/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The staffing schedule at primary level operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils, with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. Each one point adjustment to the current 28:1 schedule at primary level is estimated to cost of the order of 250 posts (€15m). My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focussed pre-school inspections. The improvements in the Primary Staffing Schedule for small schools which I announced in February last are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year. The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about an improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.
547. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools for each of the years 2011 to 2014 and 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26265/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is available in the following table.
Pupil Teacher Ratio 2010-2015
|
Level |
2010/2011 |
2011/2012 |
2012/2013 |
2013/2014 |
2014/2015 |
|
First Level |
15.7 |
16.2 |
16.4 |
16.3 |
16.2 |
|
Second Level |
13.6 |
13.9 |
14.3 |
14.3 |
14.2 |
548. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the average class size in primary schools for the each of the years 2011 to 2014 and 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26266/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is available in the following table.
Average Class Size in Primary Schools
|
- |
2010/2011 |
2011/2012 |
2012/2013 |
2013/2014 |
2014/2015 |
|
Average class size in Mainstream Classes |
24.3 |
24.5 |
24.7 |
24.8 |
24.9 |
The withdrawal of Resource Teachers for Travellers (Circular 0017/2011) resulted in a change in the way pupils from the Travelling Community are counted. This has led to a once-off discontinuity from the 2011/2012 academic year onwards in the count of both Pupils in Mainstream Classes in Mainstream Schools and Pupils with Special Needs in Mainstream Schools.
549. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on reducing class sizes in primary schools to the European Union average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26267/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focussed pre-school inspections. The improvements in the Primary Staffing Schedule for small schools which I announced in February last are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year. The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers. The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
550. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reversing cuts to the capitation grants for primary and post-primary schools; her plans to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26268/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. That increase has provided funding for 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs to be recruited for our schools, as well as funding important reforms. However, it was not possible to secure the funding which would be required to also increase the rates of capitation paid to our schools. The school funding measures introduced in Budget 2011 provided for a 5% reduction in funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools. This was applied to schools by a 5% reduction across the range of per capita grants. The multi annual school funding measures introduced in Budget 2012, provided for a 6% overall reduction in the funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools. The reduction was introduced on a phased basis and applied by a 2% reduction in 2012 and 2013 and a further reduction of 1% in 2014 and 2015. In total these measures have resulted in capitation and related funding to the primary and second level school sector being reduced by 11%. Increasing overall funding at present would cost approx. €3.7m per percentage point. I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. In the last Budget, I was able to secure the first increase in education spending in recent years. I am determined to continue pressing the case for increased investment in education in the forthcoming budget.
551. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on reducing the threshold for the appointment of administrative principals in primary schools to 170, 160 and 150 pupils; the cost of reducing the threshold for administrative principals to 170, 160, and 150 pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26269/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2015/2016 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is available on the website. Under the published staffing arrangements for the coming school year a principal teacher attains administrative status on a minimum enrolment of 178 pupils (Principal plus 7 classroom teachers) on 30 September 2014. The cost of adjusting this arrangement to 173 pupils (Principal plus 6 classroom teachers) is estimated to be of the order of €1.5 million per annum, while the cost of reducing the threshold to 145 pupils (Principal plus 5 classroom teachers) is estimated at a cost of €10.5 million per annum. I am aware of the workload issue and the pressures on Principals teachers. My Department has done work at helping to ease the administrative burden on school principals. The development and introduction of the primary online database is a significant step forward in this regard. A further step forward was the recent publication of Department Circular 0033/2015 which updates and simplifies the manner in which primary schools can maintain pupil enrolment and attendance records following the introduction of the primary online database. Economic constraints and the moratorium on recruitment albeit alleviated to some extent for schools, have presented challenges within the education sector. They also provide an opportunity to review the role of the principal so that our principals are leaders of learning, and to reconfigure the middle management structure to support principals in their role, ensuring ownership of responsibility rather than tasks, thereby building expertise and supporting a career path within the profession. The Department, in consultation with the representative management bodies has commenced an exploration of the opportunities to support and thereby advance our understanding of the needs of school leaders and how they might be addressed.
552. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on additional release days for teaching principals in primary schools; the cost of increasing the current allocation to one day per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26270/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrincipal duties in medium to large sized schools are carried out by administrative principals. Principal duties in small to medium sized schools are carried out by teaching principals. Circular 25/02 which is available on the Department website outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal. Under the current arrangements the number of days that principal teachers may take as release time in each school year ranges between 14 and 22 days depending on the size of the school. Improving these arrangements so as to enable teaching principals to have one release day per week would cost of the order of €10 million per annum. I am aware of the workload issue and the pressures on Principals teachers. My Department has done work at helping to ease the administrative burden on school principals. The development and introduction of the primary online database is a significant step forward in this regard. A further step forward was the recent publication of Department Circular 0033/2015 which updates and simplifies the manner in which primary schools can maintain pupil enrolment and attendance records following the introduction of the primary online database. Economic constraints and the moratorium on recruitment albeit alleviated to some extent for schools, have presented challenges within the education sector. They also provide an opportunity to review the role of the principal so that our principals are leaders of learning, and to reconfigure the middle management structure to support principals in their role, ensuring ownership of responsibility rather than tasks, thereby building expertise and supporting a career path within the profession. The Department, in consultation with the representative management bodies has commenced an exploration of the opportunities to support and thereby advance our understanding of the needs of school leaders and how they might be addressed.
553. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of psychologists employed by the National Educational Psychological Service on 1 January in each year from 2011 to 2015; the hours allocated to each county; and the costs in providing same. [26271/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra556. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing psychological services for children with additional needs for the years 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26274/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 556 together.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology services to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases receive assessment services through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Under this scheme schools can have a student assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution-oriented consultative approach to maximise positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment. This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.
NEPS psychologists also provide a range of advisory and training services to teachers supporting the educational, social and emotional development of pupils at a whole-school, class and individual level. Additionally, NEPS psychologists process applications for all post-primary schools nationally on behalf of State Examinations Commission (SEC) for students with Specific Learning Disabilities for Reasonable Accommodations in the Leaving Certificate examination and provide support, upon request, to schools experiencing critical incidents.
NEPS Psychologists are allocated schools based on a weighting process which takes into account school size, type, DEIS status, gender mix, geographical spread and the presence of special unit and classes.
NEPS Psychologists hold planning meeting with their assigned schools at the commencement of each academic year to discuss and agree the schools' priority needs and their particular programme of service for the year and this will vary to a degree according to the order and complexity of those needs. Service delivery to schools, as described above may be, according to the dictates of staff maternity or sick leave for example, a mixture of NEPS staff support and SCPA.
Furthermore NEPS is regionally structured with 22 offices nationally serving the needs of schools in their respective catchment areas which can and do commonly cross county boundaries, staff in these offices may also aggregate service across a cluster of schools (for training programmes) and so it is unfeasible to disaggregate overall service in terms cost or time-input by school or county nor does NEPS attempt to do so.
For the Deputy's information, therefore, at Appendix A, there is an outlay by county of the cumulative school pupil coverage and aggregate workload assigned to NEPS psychologists based on the weighting process described above.
At Appendix B there is a breakdown of the psychologist staffing numbers for 2011 to 2015 (as of 1st January of each year) and the overall expenditure by NEPS in providing service for the same period.
My Department remains committed to the maintenance of the NEPS service to schools and I can inform the Deputy that current NEPS psychologist staffing numbers stand at 183 (172 w.t.e.), including 5 temporary posts, the highest level since the establishment of the Service in 1999. Furthermore the process of engaging three additional psychologists is nearing completion.
APPENDIX A
Breakdown by County and Academic Year of Pupil and cumulative School Weighting Points workload assigned to NEPS Psychologists
|
- |
2010-11 |
- |
2011-12 |
- |
2012-13 |
- |
2013-14 |
- |
2014-15 |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County |
Pupils |
Points |
Pupils |
Points |
Pupils |
Points |
Pupils |
Points |
Pupils |
Points |
|
Carlow |
11,294 |
19,495 |
11,858 |
20,798 |
11,932 |
20,901 |
12,253 |
21,785 |
12,459 |
22,659 |
|
Cavan |
10,438 |
18,664 |
12,217 |
21,893 |
12,389 |
22,158 |
14,114 |
26,652 |
14,387 |
27,475 |
|
Clare |
13,271 |
24,763 |
19,996 |
38,140 |
20,247 |
38,270 |
21,826 |
41,379 |
21,561 |
41,042 |
|
Cork |
73,309 |
124,215 |
86,865 |
149,751 |
85,791 |
144,076 |
96,235 |
166,747 |
98,098 |
172,168 |
|
Donegal |
27,070 |
52,270 |
30,372 |
61,758 |
24,768 |
51,681 |
29,980 |
61,566 |
30,303 |
62,838 |
|
Dublin |
103,158 |
198,955 |
108,922 |
210,874 |
111,508 |
216,131 |
115,888 |
219,142 |
118,141 |
225,260 |
|
Dublin Mid/Lein |
71,445 |
126,844 |
68,346 |
126,815 |
78,568 |
140,011 |
79,375 |
139,704 |
80,674 |
143,150 |
|
Galway |
40,875 |
77,161 |
45,956 |
74,012 |
40,253 |
75,691 |
45,470 |
86,242 |
46,730 |
88,023 |
|
Kerry |
25,048 |
45,212 |
25,435 |
45,778 |
25,773 |
46,378 |
25,952 |
46,444 |
26,145 |
47,086 |
|
Kildare |
40,233 |
67,437 |
40,790 |
68,713 |
41,659 |
69,609 |
44,175 |
74,298 |
45,122 |
76,423 |
|
Kilkenny |
13,085 |
21,722 |
15,356 |
27,279 |
15,129 |
26,432 |
16,828 |
29,766 |
17,110 |
30,615 |
|
Laois |
9,091 |
16,103 |
14,570 |
27,548 |
6,900 |
11,794 |
15,462 |
27,480 |
15,556 |
28,014 |
|
Leitrim |
5,697 |
11,349 |
5,834 |
11,584 |
5,908 |
11,334 |
5,966 |
11,151 |
6,040 |
11,468 |
|
Limerick |
26,056 |
45,106 |
31,962 |
55,629 |
31,720 |
55,420 |
35,910 |
61,252 |
36,574 |
62,999 |
|
Longford |
6,988 |
13,070 |
7,764 |
15,280 |
6,202 |
12,250 |
8,485 |
16,351 |
8,673 |
16,925 |
|
Louth |
17,545 |
34,402 |
21,379 |
40,837 |
21,778 |
41,347 |
26,700 |
48,228 |
27,604 |
49,729 |
|
Mayo |
18,748 |
37,147 |
23,816 |
47,722 |
23,788 |
47,593 |
24,440 |
49,255 |
24,235 |
49,426 |
|
Meath |
20,126 |
33,150 |
29,166 |
47,362 |
23,777 |
39,418 |
37,188 |
60,785 |
38,275 |
63,053 |
|
Monaghan |
10,621 |
17,631 |
10,845 |
17,951 |
10,983 |
18,149 |
12,502 |
22,136 |
12,628 |
22,707 |
|
Offaly |
13,620 |
23,741 |
14,664 |
25,905 |
14,836 |
26,160 |
14,971 |
27,554 |
15,553 |
29,634 |
|
Roscommon |
6,286 |
13,067 |
10,308 |
22,636 |
10,275 |
22,377 |
10,310 |
22,515 |
10,238 |
22,516 |
|
Sligo |
11,140 |
21,241 |
11,235 |
21,181 |
11,319 |
21,360 |
11,458 |
21,532 |
11,770 |
22,211 |
|
Tipperary NR |
8,361 |
14,667 |
8,655 |
15,157 |
8,790 |
15,345 |
14,158 |
24,039 |
14,685 |
25,486 |
|
Tipperary SR |
14,329 |
25,026 |
6,801 |
12,641 |
8,152 |
14,253 |
16,512 |
28,915 |
16,600 |
29,813 |
|
Waterford |
17,594 |
30,637 |
22,460 |
39,978 |
22,074 |
39,508 |
22,924 |
39,699 |
23,270 |
40,195 |
|
Westmeath |
17,395 |
29,107 |
17,335 |
30,278 |
14,820 |
25,749 |
18,665 |
32,029 |
18,854 |
32,746 |
|
Wexford |
23,392 |
42,137 |
26,814 |
49,276 |
28,695 |
53,667 |
29,157 |
53,953 |
29,675 |
55,229 |
|
Wicklow |
24,551 |
42,744 |
23,272 |
41,120 |
25,598 |
44,224 |
26,259 |
45,119 |
27,016 |
47,041 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
680,766 |
1,227,063 |
752,993 |
1,367,894 |
743,632 |
1,351,287 |
833,163 |
1,505,715 |
847,976 |
1,545,930 |
Notes: 10,000 School Weighting Points are the equivalent of 1 w.t.e. NEPs psychologist providing some 180 days service p.a. to their assigned schools.
APPENDIX B
Number of Psychologists employed by NEPS by Year (both individual and Whole-Time Equivalent) and Cost of NEPS Service 2010 – 2015
|
Year |
No. individual |
W.T.E. |
Cost of NEPS Service |
|
2010 |
153 |
146.9 |
€16,656,507 |
|
2011 |
165 |
158.9 |
€17,762,579 |
|
2012 |
173 |
166 |
€17,261,192 |
|
2013 |
171 |
162.8 |
€17,436,752 |
|
2014 |
177 |
168.1 |
€17,036,733 |
|
2015 |
177 |
166.9 |
€18,075,000 |
Notes: Staff numbers at 1st January of each Year. Expenditure based on calendar year out-turn for NEPS budget (Pay & Non-Pay) except for current year which relates to annual allocation. Staffing numbers have increased since 1/1/15 to 183 (172 w.t.e.), including 5 temporary posts.
554. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing special needs assistant supports for children with additional needs for the years 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26272/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra555. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing resource teacher supports for children with additional needs for the years 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26273/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together.
The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2011 to 2015 is given in tabular form.
There are now more additional resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) supporting children with special educational needs in our schools than at any time previously.
The NCSE allocated 6,454 resource teacher posts to schools for September 2015, which is an increase of 554 posts - or 9.4% - since September 2014.
In addition, 11,330 SNA posts, an increase of 365 posts, or over 3%, are available to the NCSE to allocate to the end of 2015.
This is the highest level of special needs teachers and SNA support that we have ever had, and will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
Cost of SNA and Resource Teaching Allocations 2011 - 2015
|
Year |
No of SNAs |
Approximate Cost |
No. of Resource Teachers |
Approximate Cost |
|
2015 |
11,330 |
€379,555,000 |
6454 |
€396,921,000 |
|
2014 |
11,110 |
€366,630,000 |
6225 |
€382,837,500 |
|
2013 |
10965 |
€361,845,000 |
5745 |
€353,317,500 |
|
2012 |
10575 |
€335,116,463 |
5265 |
€323,797,500 |
|
2011 |
10575 |
€335,116,463 |
5175 |
€318,262,500 |
