Written answers

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Staff

Photo of Tony McLoughlinTony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set down the number of new special needs assistants he is allocating to counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal out of the 610 announced in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9676/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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From 2000 the number of SNAs provided to support children with Special Educational Needs has grown from 1,495 to 12,040 in 2016. This growth in numbers has supported the development of over 1,000 special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools and has supported children's participation in mainstream classes while also maintaining support for children in special schools.

Recent years have seen an increase in the number of SNAs from 10,575 posts in 2011 to 12,040 to June 2016. In the same period the number of children accessing SNA support has grown from approximately 22,000 to some 30,000 by the end of 2015. The increase in SNA numbers has been supported by a very significant increase in the Budget for SNAs, rising from €332 million in 2011 to €402 million by the end of 2015.

Budget 2016 provided an additional 100 posts to meet additional demand arising from January to June 2016, bringing the total number to 12,040. This is a higher level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support than ever before, which will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.

The NCSE has published details of SNA allocations for schools from 2012 to 2015 on its website, which are available to view on a per county basis, including counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal. Details of allocations can be accessed using the following link: .

All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year by 29th February 2016. The NCSE continues to accept applications in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. The NCSE will consider these applications and make further allocations to schools in respect of valid applications which have been received to September.

The NCSE will advise all schools of their allocations for SNA support for 2016/17 before the end of the current school year.

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