Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the question of money, in the last budget, for example, there was a considerable increase in the number of resource teachers and special needs assistants. That has been the case for a number of years and I am sure it will be the case again next year.

As the Deputy knows, the National Council for Special Education has put forward a proposed new model of allocation of resources. We will not implement that next September because we do not have all the data we require to do it properly. However, we will introduce a pilot scheme and I think that will provide us with an opportunity to evaluate the effect on individual children of the way in which the current system is implemented.

Between the general allocation model and the specific allocations that come through the National Council for Special Education, there has been a considerable yearly increase in the resources available in this area. However, I acknowledge more work needs to be done. When we have a debate on the implementation of the new model, that will allow us to take a more comprehensive approach to children with special educational needs in schools. That is what the Deputy is looking to achieve.

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