Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if support will be given to the INTO request for 650 additional special needs teachers and priority given to this issue. [24517/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is introducing a weighted system of teacher allocation for primary school pupils requiring learning support and those with higher-incidence special educational needs. An additional 350 teaching posts are being allocated to facilitate the introduction of the new system. The weighted system is intended to improve and streamline the special education resource allocation process. In that context, the additional posts being put in place represent a very significant investment to ensure the success of the measure.

My Department intends to monitor and assess the implementation of the new system to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness. The question of further resource allocation can be considered in the light of that assessment.