Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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675. 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34668/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that there are more additional teachers supporting children with special educational needs in our schools than at any time previously.

As part of Budget 2015, I announced provision for an additional 480 Resource Teaching posts, to take into account increased demand and demographic growth and to ensure that children can continue to have access to additional supports in school.

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. The NCSE is also currently completing its second round allocation process to respond to late enrolments, or from diagnosed disabilities emerging after the closing date for the first allocation round, to the start of the new school year.

Details of resource teaching allocations which have been made to schools is available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.

In addition, all Primary and Post Primary schools have a permanent allocation of additional teaching supports to provide for children whose educational psychological assessment places them in the high incidence, or less complex, disability category. Over 5,000 additional teaching posts have been allocated to schools for this purpose.

More children than ever before are receiving resource teaching support in schools. It ensures that schools can continue to provide the additional teaching support required to assist the meaningful inclusion of pupils with special needs in mainstream schools.