Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

They will hear this week. As I said, there will be an additional 975 SNAs in place for September. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, will give the detail in a statement this week. Therefore, everyone will know this week where they stand for September. In future years, the decision will be made much earlier because it will be part of the normal Estimates process, which is in October. There will be plenty of notice for the first quarter of 2018.

The Deputy is absolutely correct that the need is great. The response, however, is also great. Let me give some examples of the kind of response the Government has put in place in recent years to assist children in education with special educational needs. The budget for special needs has increased by 32% since 2011. It is now €1.68 billion. The number of SNAs has increased by 23% since 2011, from just over 10,000 to 13,000. The number of special classes has increased by 120% since 2011. That is just to give a few examples of the very real response that the Government has put in place to the very real and enormous need that exists.

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