Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 731: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers employed in each category as special needs assistants resource and English language teachers in the past three school years at primary and post primary respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27359/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 732: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children who have availed in each category of special needs assistant resource and English language teaching in the past three school years at primary and post primary respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27360/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 732 together.

The number of learning support and resource teachers allocated to primary and post-primary schools over the last three years, including whole-time equivalent posts under the part-time scheme, is as follows:

The number of children benefiting from resource teaching is not readily available.

The education of children with special educational needs is a key policy priority for the Government. Much has already been achieved in this area in terms of delivering additional teaching and care supports. There have been significant developments in special education since 1998 involving enhanced levels of provision as well as new structural and legislative frameworks for the delivery of services to pupils with special educational needs.

The number of language support posts allocated to primary and post-primary schools for the past three years is as follows:

It is estimated that there are in the region of 28,000 children in first and second level schools in receipt of English language support in the current school year because English or Irish is not their first language. The corresponding figures for the previous two years are 23,500 and 14,400 respectively.

Additional supports are provided for children in primary schools who do not meet the qualifying criteria for the appointment of full-time teachers in the form of grant aids for the employment of part-time language support teachers. 469 schools have benefited from this type of financial support in the current school year.