Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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496. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs teachers remain available to all schools throughout County Kildare in line with requirements; if any particular areas with requirements above the national average in this regard have been identified; her plans for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3904/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that all State-funded primary and post primary schools have been allocated additional resources, including additional teaching support, to provide for children with special educational needs enrolled in school.

As part of Budget 2015, I announced that an additional 480 Resource Teachers would be provided in 2015, to take into account increased demand and demographic growth and to ensure that children can continue to have access to additional supports in school. In addition, over 130 new Special Classes have been established for the 2014/15 school year.

These increases, building on increases which have already been provided in recent years, have ensured that we now have more special needs support teachers in our schools than ever before, and will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs. It will also ensure that where particular demand arises, due to demograpic growth or to increased need, that this demand can be met.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) also allocates resource teaching hours to schools for children who have been assessed within the low incidence, or more complex, category of special need, as defined by my Department's Circular Sp Ed 02/05.

The NCSE also sanctions the opening of special classes where such classes are required.

The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.

The NCSE will continue to plan and coordinate the provision of education and support services to ensure that the educational requirements of children with special needs can continue to be met in all areas.

Details of Resource Teaching and Special Class allocations for Co. Kildare for the current school year are available on the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) website, www.ncse.ie.