Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which it is intended to continue to provide financial support and assistance to ensure the continuation of the operation of the full range of facilities at a service (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his attention has been drawn to the commitments, the ongoing needs and the future requirements of children and adults in this category; his views on the need to make increased provision in the future in view of the expected requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12375/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's involvement in supporting the service referred to by the Deputy extends to the supports it provides in facilitating the operation of the special school for pupils with a moderate general learning disability that is located at the facility in question.

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs.

The recent budgetary announcements do not affect the criteria used for the allocation of special needs teaching and care resources for children with special educational needs. The National Council for Special Education continues to operate within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

There are now 19,000 adults in our schools working solely with children with special needs. This includes over 10,000 special needs assistants — compared with just 300 in 1997. 8,200 resource and learning support teachers — compared with about 2,000 in 1998. 1,100 other teachers in our special schools supporting children, while hundreds more work in special classes.

The Deputy will know that priority within the budgetary process has been given to pupils with special educational needs in allocating additional teaching, SNA and other resources.