Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank the members of the Technical Group for allocating their time to this very important issue. It provides me with an opportunity to reassure all parents of children with special educational needs that their children will continue to have access to an education appropriate to their needs. Over the course of this debate last night and this evening, speakers from both sides of the House have spoken passionately of the importance of the special needs assistant scheme to the lives of children with special care needs as they progress through their education in our schools.

It is notable that while the special needs assistant scheme enjoys the fullest support from all sides of the House, the debate has essentially focused on the practical and prudent measures the Government is taking to manage this very considerable and important resource. If we set aside for one moment the substantial financial crisis that has befallen the country, and even the terms of the programme for recovery which we are committed to implementing, it is clear that even in a more favourable financial climate it would be unthinkable that we would continue to support the allocation of special needs assistants without rigorous controls in place. The measures being implemented are nothing more or less than what is necessary to ensure the proper governance of this very costly resource. These measures will ensure that SNAs are allocated only where they are genuinely needed and that they are withdrawn where they are not needed.

No scheme, particularly one which accounts for such a large share of the Department's annual budget, could be operated without limits as some Members opposite suggest. No scheme can operate without the appropriate controls and rigorous and diligent planning to ensure it meets the needs of those it serves and provides the best possible value for taxpayers' money.

Many Opposition Deputies clearly accept the findings of the recent value for money and policy review of the SNA scheme which pointed to an over-allocation of SNA resources in some cases. Some Members make the case this provides an opportunity to extend the role of SNAs beyond a care role to possibly include teaching support. I want to be clear there are no plans for the expansion of the SNA scheme beyond its current purpose. The value for money and policy review is very clear in this respect. The care role envisaged for the SNA needs to be understood by schools, professionals and parents. SNAs should not be used to supplement teaching or as therapeutic support for students. The National Council for Special Education allocates separate additional teaching expertise to provide the additional teaching support needs for these children.

The number of learning support and resources teachers provided by the Department for the coming year has increased by 350 over last year. The simple and unavoidable facts are that in the coming year, the Department will commit €1.3 billion in support of children with special educational needs. This provision, which represents 15% of the overall budget for the Department, is in line with expenditure and is clear evidence that despite the current economic difficulties, funding for special education has not been cut. It is worth repeating that line for those who perhaps do not want to hear the truth or find it more politically beneficial to ignore the truth. Despite the current economic difficulties, funding for special education has not been cut.

The commitment of the Government to the protection of front line services for pupils with special educational needs is without question. The Department will continue to improve the measures necessary to manage this very substantial resource. We believe that diligent and rigorous management of these resources is in the best interests of the service, of our schools, of parents and, most importantly, of all our children.

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