Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he expects to continue to be in a position to meet the requirements of children with special needs in mainstream education over the next four years with particular reference to the provision of adequate provision of special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25921/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to special needs education it should be noted that there has been no reduction in the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) which will be available for schools next year, with 10,575 posts remaining available for allocation. There has also been no reduction in the overall number of resource teaching posts which will be available for allocation to mainstream schools next year, either through the General Allocation Model or which are available for individual allocation by the National Council for Special Education. The fact that the number of special needs assistant and resource teaching posts are being maintained at current levels is a reflection of this Governments commitment to prioritising supports for children with special educational needs, at a time when there is a requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas.

While it is not possible at this point to pre-empt future budgetary considerations, the commitment of this Government to protecting front line services for children with special educational needs will ensure that the requirements of special needs pupils in mainstream education can continue to be provided for on an ongoing basis, despite overall budgetary pressures.