Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The information we receive is improving all the time. On a related issue, one of the reasons we were not able to introduce the new model for resource teachers was that we needed to receive more accurate information on children with complex needs. Much of it was coming from the preschool sector and the HSE on what they had identified as being the needs of younger children. We receive a certain amount of information, but we are constantly trying to improve on it in advance in order that it is as accurate as possible in predicting needs. I have some figures which I can circulate to members for the school years from 2011 to 2015-16 for students in mainstream education accessing SNAs, students in special classes and students in special schools. For example, in mainstream primary school classes in the 2011-12 school year the number was 12,150 students; in the 2015-16 school year it is 16,023. There has been a gradual and steady increase in the intervening years. In special classes the number increased from 3,286 to 5,100 students, while for special schools the figure increased from 6,848 to 7,607. I assume the increase is due to a combination of increased awareness, increased demand and, possibly, increased need.