Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants appointed to primary schools, broken down by county, for the years 2002 to 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14899/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The total numbers of whole-time equivalent Special Needs Assistants in primary schools for each school-year (June) are as follows:

2002/03 — 4,800

2003/04 — 5,018

2004/05 — 5,730

2005/06 — 6,506

2006/07 — 7,410

2007/08 (April) — 8,253

A break-down of these numbers on a county basis is only available for the current school-year. I will arrange to have these details forwarded directly to the Deputy.