Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his response to the recommendations of the recent National Council for Special Education research report, Moving to Further and Higher Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50226/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory role under the EPSEN Act to conduct, commission and publish research in relation to matters regarding the provision of educational services for persons with special educational needs. I welcome the research report from the NCSE and think it will be an important contribution to the future development of policy in this important area of work. My Department will consider the report and will request that a number of key agencies, including SOLAS, the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the network of Education and Training Boards and higher education institutions reflect on its contents.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has found it possible to make adequate provision for children with special needs throughout mainstream education; if he has identified any particular areas in respect of which he proposes to address any emerging issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50294/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Expenditure supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs in 2013 is some €1.3bn, which represents approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department. These resources have been protected despite the ongoing severe financial position and a requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas. This level of expenditure includes provision for 10,575 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), over 10,700 Learning Support and Resource Teachers along with 740 Special Classes attached to mainstream schools and ensures that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers in mainstream education, in accordance with the intent of the EPSEN Act.

The NCSE recently published comprehensive policy advice on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs. As suggested in the report, I have requested the NCSE to establish a Working Group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new allocation model for teaching supports based on the profiled needs of children in schools.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will receive the report of the National Council for Special Education working group on a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50224/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has established a Working Group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with Special Educational Needs, based on profiled educational needs of schools. Mr Eamon Stack, the NCSE Chairperson and former Chief Inspector in my Department, has been appointed to chair this working group. I received an oral briefing from the Chairperson on the progress of the work of this group to date, on 2nd October, 2013. The group expects to complete its work by the end of Spring next year.

The NCSE consulted widely with interested parties in developing its policy advice and I understand that the Working Group has also consulted a range of interested parties, including parents and representative groups, as its work has progressed. I look forward to a considered debate on this matter when the proposals are finalised.