Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 685: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to improve facilities for children with special needs receiving mainstream education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33209/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Enormous progress has been made on increasing the number of special needs assistants, SNAs, in our schools who specifically cater for children with special educational needs. Approximately 6,650 whole-time equivalent SNAs work in our primary and second level schools supporting children with special needs. The National Council for Special Education, through its network of locally based special educational needs organisers, is responsible for processing any applications for additional SNA support that it may receive from schools.

On the capital side, under the prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, the provision of specialist accommodation for children with special needs attracts a band 1 rating. This is the highest rating possible which is indicative of my Department's commitment to ensuring that where accommodation needs are identified, they are addressed in the shortest timeframe possible. I will continue to prioritise the issue of special needs education and, in co-operation with the National Council for Special Education and the education partners, ensure that all children with special needs are adequately resourced to enable them to meet their full potential.