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

In the last two years, teacher numbers are up by 2,300 posts and the number of SNAs and resource teachers is up by 1,700. For the first time, we had an increase in the overall education budget last October. That is an indication of progress. We have gone through very difficult times, but we have turned the corner. Perhaps that indicates that some credit should be given to the Government in terms of the policy that has allowed us to recover our economic sovereignty and start putting money back into areas like education. With regard to the area of special needs, a new model has been proposed. That is under consideration. Areas like the kind of supports to be offered to children with special needs will be part of that. We will introduce it at first on a pilot basis. I will be announcing details of that shortly. It was discussed earlier. The new model will not be introduced, apart from as a pilot programme, by next September.

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