Written answers

Thursday, 7 July 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he expects to meet the educational requirements of children with special needs in the future; his plans to best provide for such requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19237/11]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which it is expected to meet the requirements in terms of special needs teachers and special needs assistants in mainstream education in all areas throughout the country in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19455/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 119 together.

I wish to inform the Deputy that 10,575 whole time equivalent (wte) Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts are being provided for primary, post-primary and special schools for the coming school year in order to support the care needs of pupils with disabilities. This is a significant number of posts and unlike other areas of the public sector vacancies are being filled up to this number. For example, it represents an increase over the December 2010 position where 10,543 posts were sanctioned and in place.

Approximately 9,950 learning support/resource teacher posts, including those provided under the General Allocation model, are also being provided in primary & post primary schools in order to provide additional teaching support to pupils with special educational needs. This represents an increase of approximately 350 wte posts over last years allocation. Over 1,000 teachers are also being provided for in special schools providing teaching to pupils with various disabilities at much reduced pupil: teacher ratios e.g. autism PTR is 6:1; moderate general learning disability PTR is 8:1.

Enhanced levels of school capitation are payable to most special schools and special classes and special School Transport arrangements for pupils with disabilities are provided at a cost of over €60m per year. Approximately €1.3m is also provided annually to schools for assistive technology support. Early educational intervention is provided for children with autism from 21⁄2 years of age. There are now 56 early intervention classes for children with autism attached to mainstream schools that are funded by the Department. Funding is also provided through the home tuition programme for children with autism aged from 2 1⁄2 years to 5 who are unable to access an early intervention class.

An extended school year is also currently available for pupils who have either a severe/profound general learning disability or who have autism. In all, in excess of €1bn has been allocated in the 2011 budget to support pupils with special educational needs. This level of expenditure is in line with the provision in 2010 and represents a significant commitment to special education provision at a time when savings are being required across a range of expenditure areas.

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