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

There are now more additional resource teachers supporting children with special educational needs in our schools than at any time previously. The National Council for Special Education allocated 6,454 resource teacher posts to schools for September 2015, an increase of 554 posts or 9.4% since September 2014. The total number of posts available for allocation has increased by 27% since 2012, from 5,265 posts in 2012 to 6,705 posts for 2015-2016.

A pilot of a new model for delivering teaching resources to schools to support students with special needs recommended by the NCSE will take place in schools for the coming school year. Initially, 52 schools, including 31 primary schools and 21 post-primary schools, have been invited to participate in the pilot for the coming school year. I have no plans to change the existing allocation process pending the completion of the pilot project and the introduction of a new allocation model.

See this speech in context