Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I am pleased the Deputy took the initiative and met officials from the National Council for Special Education. The Department sets the policy and NCSE officials, who are the experts on the ground, deliver the instruments with which policy can be implemented. I am advised by the NCSE that it is retaining 175 of the 10,575 special needs assistant posts. I will speak to the council to determine whether it would be prudent to release a number of these retained posts. Given that the total number of SNA posts is capped by the employment control framework, I will be advised by the need to retain a prudent number of posts. A post that is available to be filled should not lie fallow.

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