Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she remains satisfied regarding the availability of adequate special needs classes at primary and secondary level, the regions and areas most likely to require extra facilities in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15964/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the availability of resource or special needs teachers at primary and secondary level; the extent to which she expects to be in a position to provide extra facilities in areas most in need in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15965/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together.

The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.

As part of Budget 2015, I announced that an additional 365 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts are being provided in 2015, as well as an additional 480 Resource Teachers, to take into account increased demand and demographic growth and to ensure that children can continue to have access to additional supports in school. This is the highest number of Resource Teaching and SNA support that we have ever had.

In addition, over 130 new Special Classes have been established for the 2014/15 school year. The number of special classes attached to mainstream schools is growing annually and there are now approximately 860 Special Classes in place around the country.

The NCSE will continue to engage with schools in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.

These increases, building on increases which have already been provided in recent years, 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.