Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

We are continuously increasing supports and resources for schools, be they primary, secondary or special schools. Where we need to increase funding for specific curricular reform is very much part of the conversation with various unions on leaving certificate reform and how we can make sure that schools have the resources, supports and teachers to roll out the new curriculums. That, of course, includes our special schools as well. We need to make sure that, where we can, we increase any of the resources that are needed. We will engage with the teacher associations and the parents and schools.

It is not the case that one is to the detriment of the other. There are now approximately 44,000 special education teachers and SNAs in our schools across the country. When one considers that there are just under 80,000 teachers in our schools, that is more than half on top of that being provided in additional support in our mainstream classrooms, special education classrooms and otherwise.