Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2022
127. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the total number of special education teachers supporting pupils in primary, secondary and special schools this academic year; if the number has increased since the previous academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13349/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2021 provided for an additional 145 special education teachers which brought the total provision to 13,765 in 2021.
Budget 2022 provides for an additional 620 new SET posts in special education. This new investment is required to meet the needs of students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes; students to be enrolled in new special classes and new special school places and the needs of new and developing schools.
This will bring the total number of SET in the mainstream school system to 14,385 in 2022
Special Schools and Special Classes
There are currently 2,148 special classes nationwide, an increase of 300 in the current school-year with a further 287 special classes provided for in Budget 2022 to open from September next
There are currently 126 special schools nationwide, with two new schools opened in Cork and Dublin in the current school-year with approximately 1,400 teachers supporting over 8,000 students in these schools.
