Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she is satisfied with the availability of special needs classes throughout the primary and secondary level sectors; if adequate special needs teachers and special needs assistants continue to be made available in sufficient numbers to meet ongoing and future needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25763/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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This year we have again increased the number of special classes which will open for 2015/16 school year with additional 149 special classes to open in September. This brings to over 1,000, the number of special classes in mainstream schools and represents a 17% increase over the 2014/15 number of special classes.

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 the current year.

This is the highest level of Special Class provision 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.