Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 772: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the fundamental importance of special needs teachers, he will take steps to review his decision to reduce the number of such teachers out of mainstream education due to the fact of the significant strides that have been made in recent years, whereby children with special needs were maintained in mainstream education with very positive results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12916/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy in relation to the deployment of special needs teachers has not changed. No decision has been taken to reduce the level of learning support/resource teachers in mainstream schools. On the contrary, the level of learning support has increased at post-primary level. Special classes continue to be supported providing the enrolments warrant the provision of such classes.

The Deputy will be aware that special education continues to be a key Government policy. There has been unprecedented investment in providing supports for pupils with special needs in recent years. There are now about 20,000 adults in our schools working solely with pupils with special needs. This includes over 10,000 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs); 8,600 resource and learning support teachers; over 1,100 special school teachers and hundreds of other teachers in special classes. Over €1 billion is being spent in supporting special educational provision this year.

As well as this significant increase in the numbers of additional teachers and SNAs, much investment has taken place in the provision of transport, adapted school accommodation, assistive technology and specialist equipment. The National Council for Special Education will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers and resources will continue to be allocated to schools to meet children's needs in line with my Department's policy.