Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve access to special educational supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28393/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Funding for special education provision has increased substantially in recent years and in 2016 will amount to some €1.5 billion, which is equivalent to approximately 17% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training.

This funding provides for a range of supports and services including:

-  12,900 Special Needs Assistants (Ss) at a full year cost of €426m are available for allocation to the end of 2016. This is a 22% increase over 10,575 posts available since 2011.

- Over 11,800 learning support and Resource Teacher posts, at a full year cost of €722m, are provided in mainstream primary and post primary schools, of which 7,452 resource teacher posts are available for 2016/17, which represents an increase of 41% from 5265 posts available in 2011.

- Over 150 new Special Classes have been opened for the 2016/17 school year, bringing the total to 1,150 special classes in place, compared to 548 special classes in 2011.

- 125 special schools with over 1,100 teachers also provide specialist education for those pupils who need it.

It also includes special transport arrangements, building adaptations, enhanced capitation, specialised equipment, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS); additional teacher training and Home Tuition support for pupils with special educational needs who are awaiting a school placement. 

In recent years, the NCSE has provided my Department with a number of policy advice papers on:

The Future Role of Special Schools and Classes in Ireland

The Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Ireland

The Education of Children with Challenging Behaviour arising from Severe Emotional Behavioural Disorders

Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools

Delivery for Students with Special Educational Needs: A proposed new model for allocating teaching resources for Students with Special Educational Needs

Each of these reports has assisted in the development of policies in my Department which, allied with the additional resources provided have brought substantial improvements to access and outcomes for children with special Educational needs.

I have also recently requested the NCSE to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme. 

There is still some way to go and as committed to in the Programme for a Partnership Government, it is planned to further examine the adequacy of the present policies and provision, and the scope for further improvements.