Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there was a reduction in the amount of money spent by the State on court cases relating to education provision for children with special needs in 2005 in comparison to the €10 million spent for such a purpose in 2003 and 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32765/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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To date in 2005 my Department has spent a total of approximately €907,000 on legal costs and settlements associated with court cases relating to educational provision for children with special needs compared to a total of approximately €10.13 million in 2003 and 2004. These figures do not include the costs of the State's legal defence which is borne by the Attorney General's office. It is the case that legal costs associated with such cases may take some time to be submitted and processed and it is possible that further costs will be incurred before the end of the year.

I stress there has been enormous progress made in recent years in increasing the number of teachers and other supports in our schools which are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs.

At primary level there are now approximately 5,000 teachers in our schools working directly with children with special needs, including those requiring learning support. This compares to under 1,500 in 1998. Indeed, one out of every five primary school teachers is now working specifically with children with special needs. At second level, there are approximately 1,600 whole time equivalent resource teachers in place to support pupils with special educational needs. This compares to the approximately 200 teachers that were in place in the 1997-98 school year for such pupils. Furthermore there are approximately 6,300 whole time equivalent special needs assistants, SNAs, in our primary and second level schools supporting children with special needs.

In addition to the issue of resources at school level, the National Council for Special Education has also been established. This council has approximately 100 staff, the great majority of whom are special educational needs organisers, SENOs, who are locally based throughout the country. The role of the SENOs is to ensure that all special educational needs in their areas are addressed in an effective manner.

In particular, the SENOs are a focal point of contact for parents/guardians and schools, and process applications for resources for children with special educational needs. I am satisfied that the establishment of the Council and the work of the SENOs is transforming the delivery of special educational services in this country.

I am confident that as a State we have faced up to the issue of providing appropriate educational provision for all children with special needs and that much work has been done to ensure that the necessary resources and structures are in place. I can confirm that I will continue to prioritise the issue of special needs education and, in co-operation with the National Council for Special Education, ensure that all children with special needs are adequately resourced to enable them to meet their full potential.