Special Educational Needs Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Ceisteanna (437)

Martin Browne

Ceist:

437. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of providing 860 additional special needs assistant posts. [9777/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Budget 2021 increased the number of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts to over 18,000 by December this year. This represents an increase of increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.

The pay at entry of a new entrant SNA, inclusive of employer PRSI, is €28,821 so the estimated cost of 860 SNAs would be € 24,786,060.