Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Despite the economic circumstances, the Government has maintained special needs assistants and resource and learning support teachers for next year at the same level as this year. The overall number of special needs assistants will remain unchanged at 10,575 and the number of learning support and resource teachers will remain unchanged at 9,950, including 5,500 resource teachers who support children with more complex special education needs. The Bill, to which the Deputy referred, is due for publication this session. There are some aspects of it which are quite complex. I hope it will be published this session but I cannot confirm that as some of the issues are a little more complex than originally thought. However, it is being prioritised and a great deal of work is being done on it and I hope it will get through before we rise for the summer recess.

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