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

We are better able to identify the resource hour needs. As Deputy O'Brien said, the SNA need is sometimes identified during the school life of the child. I accept that we want to be more accurate in predicting these issues and we are happy to work with the committee in doing that. The review will help us. The percentage of students accessing SNA, relative to the demographic increase, is constantly higher than the actual demographic increase. Clearly, we are finding more need in the growing number of students as a whole. I think that is due to the fact that as a nation we are becoming more aware of the needs of children who have particular learning difficulties or particular physical needs. When we identify those needs we endeavour to find the resources to meet those needs.