Special Educational Needs Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 February 2021

Thursday, 11 February 2021

Ceisteanna (130, 131, 132, 133)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

130. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2019 in special classes in secondary schools. [7497/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

131. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2019 in mainstream classes in secondary schools. [7498/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

132. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2019 in special classes in primary schools. [7499/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

133. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs employed in September 2019 in mainstream classes in primary schools. [7500/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 to 133, inclusive, together.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the planning and cordination of education provision for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNA posts.

The following table outlines the number of SNA posts allocated to schools at September 2019. In addition, 2,556 SNA posts were allocated to special schools in September 2019. Information of the number of people employed to fill the posts allocated is not available.

	SNA posts
Primary Mainstream	7,752
Post Primary Mainstream	2,458
Primary Special Classes	2,171
Post Primary Special Classes	825

Budget 2021 provided for an additional 990 additional Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) posts for allocation to schools, bringing the total numbers to 18,000 by the end of December 2021. This allocation of SNAs is to meet the care needs of pupils in 2021 and will enable the establishment of new special classes, creation of new places in special schools, support children in mainstream classes and the transition to the new allocation model for the 2021/22 school year.

The Budget 2021 increase to 18,000 SNAs posts represents an increase of increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.

The NCSE has published statistical information regarding SNA allocations for all schools which can be accessed on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie or by using the following link http://ncse.ie/statistics.