Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total yearly cost of providing educational supports for children with additional needs, such as special needs assistants, language support teachers, resource teachers and the National Educational Psychological Service. [17520/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that 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.

The majority of expenditure relates to provision for salaries which in 2014/15 will provide for over 11,000 learning support and resource teachers in schools, up to 11,330 SNAs, over 1,100 teachers in special schools and 860 Special Classes.

This is the highest level of SNA support, Resource Teaching allocations and Special Class provision 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.

This funding also provides for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), enhanced levels of capitation in Special schools and Special Classes, specialist transport arrangements for pupils with disabilities, additional teacher training, a Home Tuition scheme providing a compensatory educational service and assistive technology support, where required.

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.