Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants, learning support and resource teachers granted to secondary schools here during the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12944/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, there has been enormous progress made over the past number of years in relation to increasing the number of teachers in our second level schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs.

At second level, approximately 2,125 whole time equivalent teachers are in place to support pupils with special educational needs. This compares to approximately 856 teachers that were in place in 2002 for such pupils. In addition, there are 561 whole time equivalent learning support teachers at second level. In regard to special needs assistants (SNA's) there are approximately 1,819 whole time equivalent SNA's in our second level schools. This compares to 384 SNA's in 2002.