Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants at both primary and post-primary level in WTE terms in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14; the number of hours allocated in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16463/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The previous Government capped the number of SNA posts at 10,575 in December 2010. That cap remained in place until December 2013. In December 2013, this Government agreed to increase the cap on the number of SNA posts by 390 posts to 10,965 at the end of 2014. A whole time equivalent (WTE) SNA post equates to 32 hours per week.

The total number of WTE SNA posts at the end of the 2011/12 was 10,320 including 8,315 at primary level and 2,005 at post primary level. The total number of WTE SNA posts at the end of the 2012/13 was 10,487 including 8,435 at primary level and 2,052 at post primary level. The total number of Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) SNA posts allocated by the NCSE in the current school year is 10,656 posts including 8,537 posts at primary level and 2,119 posts at post primary level.