Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Ceisteanna (1077)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

1077. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the estimated full year cost of increasing the number of SNAs by 500 in addition to the 990 pledged in Budget 2021. [41232/21]

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 500 SNAs would be €14,410,500.