Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the cost of a special needs assistant at primary school level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24463/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to ensuring that children with special educational needs are supported and given every opportunity to fulfil their full potential.

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a key role in supporting children who have additional care needs to attend school and participate in education.

There will be a total of 15,000 SNAs working in our schools by the end of this year. This is a 42% increase on 2011, when the number of SNAs stood at 10,575. The Government now invests €524m in SNAs annually, as part of a total €1.75 billion investment in special educational needs overall.

The average salary cost of a Special Needs Assistant at primary school level is currently €35,700 including employer PRSI.