Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the allocations of SNA will be made. [33792/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced that 975 additional SNAs will be available for allocation to schools from September 2017, following a Government decision on the matter.

This represents an increase of 7.5% to meet the demand for the new school year.

A total of 13,990 SNA posts will now be available, at a gross annual cost of €458 million. This is more SNAs than we have ever had previously and will ensure that all children who qualify for SNA support can continue to receive access to such support.

In total, the number of SNAs available has increased by over 32% since 2011, when 10,575 posts were available.

The National Council for Special Education has advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the coming 2017/18 school year. Details of the allocations which have been made to schools have now been published on their website - www.ncse.ie.