Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

478. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated capital cost of the additional classroom space required to implement a one-point reduction in the pupil teacher ratio by first year and full-year cost. [38934/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm to the Deputy, that each 1 point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule creates an approximate 300 additional mainstream posts. It should be noted that such an adjustment may not warrant provision of additional accommodation across all primary schools as some schools may have capacity within their existing buildings to cater for staff increases.

Allowing for available accommodation based on information available to my Department, it is estimated that the cost of providing the required additional classroom accommodation to implement a one-point reduction in the pupil teacher ratio is circa €20m.

However, where additional accommodation is needed the costs associated with providing permanent accommodation will vary depending on a range of factors including the extent of the accommodation to be provided, linking new permanent accommodation with existing facilities, site topography, geographical location of schools and costs associated with complying with statutory requirements.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

479. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of 1, 10, 50 and 100 additional SNAs by first year and full-year cost. [38935/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Deputy for the questions raised and would advise the following:

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.

Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022. This will represent an increase of 81% since 2011 at which time 10,575 were provided.

When a school has been allocated an SNA, the Board of Management, as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy and the decision on whether to employ a full time SNA to fill a full time post or to employ an equivalent number of part time SNAs rests with the employer.

My Department acts as paymaster to over 3,700 schools whose Boards of Management are the direct employers of the SNAs in those schools. SNAs in the Education and Training Board sector are employed and paid by the ETBs.

The annual current cost at entry of an additional full time Special Needs Assistant is €30,001 including employer PRSI.

The estimated cost for the employment of the additional full time SNA’s referred to in the question is a follows, 10 SNA’s would cost €300,001, 50 SNA’s would cost is in excess of €1.5M, and the cost of 100 additional SNA’s would be just in excess of €3.0M per annum.

SNA salary rates are contained in circular letter 0009/2022 and can be accessed gov.ie - Revision of Salaries for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) with effect from 1 February 2022 (www.gov.ie).

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

480. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of 1, 10, 50 and 100 additional special education teachers by first year and full-year cost. [38936/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Deputy for the questions raised and would advise the following:

Budget 2022 provides for an additional 620 new Special Education Teacher (SET) posts in special education. This new investment is required to meet the needs of students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes; students to be enrolled in new special classes and new special school places and the needs of new and developing schools.

This will bring the total number of SET in the mainstream school system to 14,385 in December 2022.

Work is ongoing in relation to finalising the budgetary projections for 2023/24 for SET.

The average salary cost of a Special Education Teacher employed on a full time basis is €69,000 per annum. The estimated cost of the additions full time Special Education Teachers referred to in the question is as follows, 10 additional Special Education Teachers would cost €690,000, 50 would cost in excess of €3.4M and 100 would cost €6.9M.