Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the total funding provided for the mainstreaming of persons with disabilities into the education system; if she will provide a breakdown in this allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1586/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children including those with special needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, in line with each child's ability, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils.

My Department's policy is to provide for children with special educational needs to be integrated into mainstream schools unless such a placement would not be in their best interests or the interests of the children with whom they are to be educated. Some children may be supported in a special class attached to a mainstream school. These students have the option, where appropriate, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils. Other children may have such complex needs that they are best placed in a special school. Students with special educational needs have access to a range of support services including additional teaching and/or care supports. In special schools and special classes, students are supported through lower pupil teacher ratios. Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) may also be recruited specifically where pupils with disabilities and significant care needs are enrolled.

There are now in excess of 20,000 adults in our schools working solely with pupils with special needs. This includes over 10,000 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) at a cost of approximately €340m; over 9,000 resource and learning support teachers employed in mainstream schools, 500 teachers in special classes and 1,100 special school teachers at a cost of approximately €650m.

My Department continues to fund special school transport arrangements for pupils with special educational needs at a cost of approximately €50m per annum. Funding is provided to schools to purchase assistive technology and/or specialist equipment at a cost of approximately €1.8m. In addition, funding is provided for school buildings to be adapted where necessary.

My Department has also responded to the need to provide teachers with continuing professional development in special education. This has been a key priority in recent years. The establishment of the Special Education Support Service (SESS) to provide expert support, professional development and training opportunities in special education for school staff has been very significant. My Department provided funding of over €2.4m to the SESS in 2010 for this purpose. 22,516 training places were provided in 2010 through the SESS.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children. The NCSE, with its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), provides a service to schools seeking additional teaching and/or care supports for enrolled students who qualify for additional supports. Working locally on the ground, the SENOs are a focal point of contact for parents and schools. The NCSE has advised my Department that additional SNA support and resource teaching hours were in place in mainstream schools in the 09/10 school year in respect of over 13,000 and 34,000 pupils respectively.

The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented investment in providing supports for pupils with special needs in recent years and Special Education continues to be a key Government priority. Over €1 billion was spent in supporting special educational provision last year.

I wish to assure the Deputy that the education of children with special educational needs remains a key Government priority and children with special educational needs will continue to have access to an appropriate education in line with my Department's policy.