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

There is a massive expansion in the resources being put into supporting children with special needs. We have increased the resources by more than 50% since 2011 in terms of teaching and special needs assistants, SNAs. We have more than doubled the number of special units in schools. Last September we opened approximately 150 and we will open another 150 next year. We are providing funding for such units where they are recommended by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. There is not a difficulty in access to funding as they are given priority access.

In this House, we also propose to provide legislative power to give the NCSE the power to require a school to both take a child and to open a unit should the NCSE deem that is necessary. This is an area where we are getting extra resources. We recognise the need and we are giving additional powers to ensure that no child would be left out where the NCSE identifies a need.

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