Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of application for special needs support that were received prior to the 20 September deadline; the number that were received subsequent to that deadline; the comparison between the numbers of these applications with the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42223/13]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for new resource teaching hours received prior to the deadline of 20 September; the number of resource teaching posts available to meet this demand; if the cap on resource teacher number will be exceeded and by how much; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42224/13]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional special needs assistants that have been approved since the deadline of 20 September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42177/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 77 and 83 together.

This year, the NCSE has received some 14,600 new applications for resource teaching support up to 20 September 2013. Already the NCSE has allocated 5,284 posts and estimates that almost a further 500 posts will be required to meet applications, including 39 applications received after 20 September, which are still under consideration.

Last year, the NCSE processed 13,900 new applications for resource teaching support received up to 5 October 2012 deadline, resulting in an overall allocation of 5,259 resource teaching posts. Applications received by the NCSE after the deadline date, other than for a small number of emergency cases, were included in the allocation process for 2013-14, which commenced in January 2013.

This year, the NCSE received a total of 7,700 new applications for SNA support to date. Some 10,480 posts have been allocated to schools to date to meet these applications and existing allocations in schools, including special schools and classes. The NCSE will continue to process applications for the remainder of the school year.

The NCSE received 7,450 applications for SNA support for the 2012-13 school year. Some 10,397 SNA posts were allocated to schools by the end of the 2012-13 school year.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply although I am not sure I understood him correctly. Did the Minister say that the NCSE received 7,450 SNA applications last year and that more than 10,400 posts were allocated?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As I stated in my reply, the NCSE received 7,450 applications for SNA support in the 2012-013 school year and 10,397 SNA posts were allocated to schools by the end of 2012-13.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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That would indicate that more than one SNA per application was sought. Those figures do not ring true. As I understand it, the number of SNA posts sought is much higher. For example, more than 22,000 applications for SNA supports will have been received and approved this year.

I also asked in my question for the number of new applications received as of the closing date of 20 September and how many SNA posts are available to meet that demand. This is similar to the question I asked of the Minister in regard to resource teachers.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Like Deputy McConalogue I, too, would like to know the number of applications received up to 20 September and how many posts sought in those applications have been allocated. The Minister might also comment on whether the closing date of 20 September was adequate given that in previous years the closing date was in October.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Last year, the number of SNAs, which was capped over the previous two years, was 10,575. The number of posts allocated at the end of the process was just below that ceiling. I do not yet have the final figures for this year because as 20 September is only a couple of weeks ago applications are still being processed. I understand that there is upward pressure demographically because of the growing population of school-going children and the higher rate increase in percentage growth terms than the demographic growth rate. I have yet to receive the final figures from the NCSE in regard to application numbers and decisions by SENOs in regard to the allocation of SNAs. The information I have provided is that which I currently have. I will try to get more up-to-date information which I will communicate to the Deputies.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The information provided today is not satisfactory. The figures provided do not add up. As rightly pointed out by the Minister, demand for special needs assistant supports has increased by more than 10%, which is similar to the increase in demand for resource teachers. The Minister initially proposed to cut the number of resource teaching hours but subsequently reversed that decision. He has consistently since then held the line that there have been no cuts or reductions in service to students who need SNA supports even though demand has increased.

Today I am seeking information specifically in regard to new applications for SNA support for 2013-14. Concern has been expressed that these may not be approved. I am disappointed we are not getting absolute clarity on this issue. I accept that the Minister has given a commitment to communicate the information when available. I acknowledge there are serious pressures on the education budget but it is critical we are told what will happen this autumn to students who qualify and have applied for SNA or resource teaching supports for the year 2013-14. It is crucial the Minister gives a commitment that these posts will be approved and that there will be no delay in appointing them so that these students will not be left for a number of months without supports.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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It is important that decisions on applications in relation to SNA applications are made as quickly as possible. I ask that the Minister provide us with the relevant figures as soon as he can. Many families are in limbo and do not know what supports will be available to them. I have heard of children being told they have access to an SNA.

While this means there may be a special needs assistant in the school, it does not mean he or she has a specific role to play in respect of the children in question. This issue needs to be addressed to ensure all of the children in a school benefit educationally.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I will revert to the Deputies with greater detail and ensure the information is accurate. I reiterate that, since taking office, the Government has ring-fenced the total number of special needs assistants, as Deputy McConalogue correctly noted, and overall monetary allocations in real terms. Demand has continued to increase, however, and while the Government will argue it is not making cutbacks, the Deputies opposite may well argue that the force of nature is driving up demand and failure to meet this demand is tantamount to a cutback. Either way, we are all concerned to ensure that young people with special educational requirements receive the kind of resources we can provide to them. While the figures may not be complete, I have no difficulty sharing them with Members of the House.