Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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554. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing special needs assistant supports for children with additional needs for the years 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26272/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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555. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing resource teacher supports for children with additional needs for the years 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26273/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together.

The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2011 to 2015 is attached in tabular form.

There are now more additional resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) supporting children with special educational needs in our schools than at any time previously.

The NCSE allocated 6,454 resource teacher posts to schools for September 2015, which is an increase of 554 posts - or 9.4% - since September 2014.

In addition, 11,330 SNA posts, an increase of 365 posts, or over 3%, are available to the NCSE to allocate to the end of 2015.

This is the highest level of special needs teachers and SNA support 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.

Cost of SNA and Resource Teaching Allocations 2011 - 2015