Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of students in primary and post-primary schools receiving special needs assistance; the number of WTE SNAs in his Department's employment in both primary and post-primary sectors; the number of persons working as SNAs; and if he has plans to reduce this service. [40506/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

While the total number of students in schools receiving SNA support is not readily available, the NCSE's records show that it has allocated SNA support to 8,907 pupils at primary level and 2,678 at post primary level since its establishment.

There are currently 8,266 whole time equivalent SNAs employed in primary schools and 1,966 employed in post primary schools.

The recent budgetary announcements does not affect the criteria used for the allocation of special needs assistance support for children with special educational needs. The National Council for Special Education continues to operate within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.