Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the impact of the 2011 Budget on the number of special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47472/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented investment in providing supports for pupils with special educational needs in recent years and special education continues to be a key Government priority. Expenditure on the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme has increased by 922% in the period 2001 – 2009. The total number of SNAs across the school system has also increased from 2988 in 2001, to 10,342 in 2009 during the same period.

The Government is continuing to prioritise special education. The National Recovery Plan 2011-14, while noting that there has been significant increases in the number of SNAs in recent years, and that while no reduction in SNA numbers is proposed over the period of the plan, stated that it is intended to cap SNA numbers at the 2011 level and to introduce a new system to facilitate the management of these finite SNA resources in a proactive manner.

This number of posts represents a substantial and significant level of support to schools which have enrolled students with special educational needs and who also have additional care needs.