Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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496. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reverse cuts to supports for children with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9150/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I have recently advised the Deputy that there has been no overall reduction to the level of investment being provided to support children with special educational needs in our schools.

On the contrary, the number of SNA and Resource Teaching posts being allocated to support children with special educational needs has increased in recent years to reflect demographic growth and increased demand in this area.

Some €1.37 billion will be spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs this year, which represents approximately 15% of my Department's budget.

This will provide for an additional 365 Special Needs Assistant posts and 480 resource teaching posts in 2015 to support children with special educational needs in schools, bringing the total number of SNAs available for allocation in 2015 to 11,330 posts and the total number of resource teaching posts to 6,705.

Over 11,000 resource and learning support teaching posts are now available. This is the highest level of SNA and resource teaching allocations that we have ever had, 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.

Investment in education has been a priority for this Government and we have been resolutely committed to protecting, and in some instances increasing, the level of investment being made to support children with special educational needs at a time when there has been a requirement to make expenditure reductions across a range of areas. It is an area of spending which has been prioritised above most other areas by this Government, despite the enormous pressures on all areas of public spending.