Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will specify the items covered for purchase by a school on behalf of pupils with special educational needs; if and when changes were made to the administration of such funding by the school building unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14741/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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On approval of a special class my Department provides lump sum grant aid towards the purchase of educational aids and equipment for special needs pupils enrolled in that class. The funding is provided on a devolved basis and it is a matter for the school authority to decide on the items to be purchased.

In addition, my Department historically provided grant aid towards the purchase of equipment for schools with approval for a multi-sensory room. In April of this year my Department reviewed this and introduced a fixed lump sum grant. This grant is now used to purchase equipment that will enable students to access, participate in, and benefit from their educational experiences.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects children with special needs will continue to be facilitated throughout mainstream education in the wake of the provisions of budget 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14745/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he hopes to retain special needs teachers at all schools throughout the country in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14747/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects special needs assistants to be retained in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14748/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current and expected position regarding the number of resource teachers required and available in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14750/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects special needs teachers in County Kildare to be retained in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14757/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 98, 99, 101 and 108 together.

The Deputy will be aware that it is necessary to ensure that educational services are delivered within the resources available due to the current fiscal position. I intend to prioritise and support special educational services. However, I cannot re-visit the previous Government's decision to place a cap on the number of posts available under the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme. This number is 10,575 whole time equivalent (WTE) posts. This is a significant number of posts and unlike other areas of the public sector vacancies are being filled up to this number. It also represents continual increases in the number of SNAs over recent years. It is considered that with equitable and careful management and distribution of these resources that there should be sufficient posts to provide access to SNA support for all children who require such care support to attend either a mainstream or special school, in accordance with Departmental criteria.

The NCSE has issued a circular to all schools advising of the allocation process for the 2011/2012 school year. A key feature of the amended scheme will be to provide for an annual allocation of Special Needs Assistant support to eligible schools. The NCSE asked schools to submit all applications for SNA support to them by 18th March, 2011 and intend to inform schools of their annual SNA allocation as soon as possible, in advance of the coming school year.

In respect of the allocation of Resource Teaching hours/posts, the total number of Whole time Equivalent (WTE) posts that are being provided for mainstream educational resource teaching/learning support (including under the General Allocation Model) for 2011 is approximately 9,950 WTE posts. By comparison approximately 9,600 WTE posts were provided for 2010. The Deputy will note that this is an increase in the number of WTE posts available for the previous year.

Circular 37/2011 provides information to schools regarding the arrangements which are being put in place for the 2011/12 school year for the allocation of Resource Teaching hours for children with assessed special educational needs.