Ms Martina Mannion:

It is important to say again that we are dealing with two different systems in two different jurisdictions so it is not a like-for-like comparison. The visiting teacher service in Ireland is just one of a range of supports available. They are in addition to mainstream class teachers and to the almost 19,000 special education teachers who are in the system as well. From our side of it, what we want to do is to ensure that we have the greatest possible numbers of teachers and supports in the system. It is more than simply a comparison of two systems that are not operating in similar set ups and structures.

If the NCSE, in working with it, identifies that there is additional need for extra staff, as it did in last year's budget, which is why we have doubled the number of staff in the NCSE, we will work with it through the budgetary process to get it whatever additional supports that are required.