Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I made the point earlier that this year we are providing an SNA service for 34,000 additional children, which is 4,000 more than were available two years ago. We are expanding this service. We are providing a very necessary support to allow more children to fulfil their potential in the education system. I set as a major goal that we should seek to be the best in Europe in accommodating children with disadvantage or disability coming to the school system. I am delivering in that area. There has been a 41% increase in resource teachers over the last number of years. This year, I am providing 900 additional resource teachers and over the last two years, 2,000 additional SNAs have been provided. We are putting huge commitment into supporting the children about which the Deputy expressed concern. I am satisfied that the work that the NCSE has done means that we will have a better system for the future.

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