Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfied that adequate provision has been made to meet the requirements of children with special needs in mainstream and special education throughout 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8223/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has received expressions of concern in relation to the adequacy of special needs provision and requirements throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8224/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if all schools will have the special needs assistant requirement met in full in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 222 and 227 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been no change in the criteria which governs the appointment of additional resource/learning support teachers and special needs assistants. The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post-primary school network. There are now over 19,000 staff in our schools working solely with children with special needs. This includes over 10,000 Special Needs Assistants — compared with just 300 in 1997. There are also over 8,000 resource and learning support teachers — compared with about 2,000 in 1998. More than 1,100 other teachers support children in our special schools, while hundreds more work in special classes.

As well as this significant increase in the numbers of additional teachers and SNAs directly providing appropriate education and care supports for children with special educational needs, much investment has taken place in the provision of transport, specialist school accommodation, home tuition, assistive technology and equipment. Additional teaching supports are allocated as necessary by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in line with my Department's policy to support children with special educational needs. As a result, there is no current shortfall in the number of teacher posts being allocated for children with special educational needs.

The Deputy will also be aware that additional funding has been allocated to my Department in 2009 to provide for an expansion of the National Educational Psychological service so that all schools in the country will be covered by the service. The additional funding available to NEPS, which represents a 33% increase over the 2008 allocation, will facilitate the recruitment of up to 50 further psychologists. It is envisaged that this will bring the number of NEPS psychologists by the end of 2009 above the proposed 200 incorporated in the Programme for Government. This investment will significantly enhance the capacity of our educational psychologists to directly support schools in the development and delivery of appropriate interventions for children with special educational needs.

Additional funding is also being provided to the National Council for Special Education in 2009 to increase the Council's capacity in the move towards the full implementation of EPSEN. The additional funding will enable the Council to continue to improve, plan and co-ordinate the delivery of services for children with special needs. I have also provided for further investment in teacher training in this area. This will ensure that teachers are provided with opportunities to access continuing professional development so that the learning and teaching needs of all pupils with Special Educational Needs continue to be met. I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of appropriate educational intervention and supports for children with special educational needs continues to be a key Government priority.