Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs requirements continue to be met throughout mainstream education; the degree to which this meets with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26115/12]

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 to the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) available for schools this year, with 10,575 posts available for allocation. There has also been no reduction in the overall number of resource teaching posts available for allocation to mainstream schools, 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. This commitment to protecting front-line services for children with special educational needs has ensured that the requirements of special needs pupils in mainstream education can continue to be provided for on an ongoing basis, despite overall budgetary pressures.