John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the resources that are being put in place to ensure that every child in the State, regardless of ability, can access education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33394/12]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the resources that are being put in place to ensure that every child in the State, regardless of ability, can access education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33339/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that the requirements of special needs pupils in mainstream education will continue to be addressed on an on-going basis within the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43382/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 223, and 277 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that this Government is committed to the protection of frontline services for pupils with special educational needs, in order to ensure that every child in the state, regardless of ability, can access education and to ensure that the requirements of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream education can continue to be met. The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students.

Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion – was spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs in 2011. The provision for the current year is in line with expenditure last year and shows that despite the current economic difficulties, the overall level of funding for special education has not been cut. Some 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.

- 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.

- Over 1,100 teachers are also being provided for in special schools providing teaching to pupils with various disabilities at much reduced pupil: teacher ratios, for example the autism PTR is 6:1 and the 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.

The continued commitment of this Government to special education provision, at a time when savings are being required across a range of expenditure areas has ensured that children with special educational needs can continue to have access to educational facilities in line with their requirements.

Finally, I wish to assure the Deputy that it is my intention that resources available to my Department are utilised to optimum benefit to ensure the best possible outcomes for students with special educational needs. In this regard my Department is seeking advice from the NCSE on policy options for the allocation of these resources in future, with a view to ensuring that the most appropriate and efficient model is in place in the coming years.