Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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829.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional number of special education teachers recruited in the 2023-24 school year; the additional number to be recruited in the 2024-25 school year; the extra number of special class teachers and extra number of teachers in special schools; the projected additional recruitment needed of each in 2025-26 to meet existing levels of service and demographics and provide a breakdown of the cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32993/24]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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831.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional number of SNAs recruited at primary and second level, respectively, in the 2023-24 school year, and the additional number to be recruited in the 2024-25 school year; the projected additional recruitment needed of each in 2025-26 to meet existing levels of service and demographics and provide a breakdown of the cost for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32995/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 829 and 831 together.

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

Budget 2024, provided for an additional 744 special education teaching (SET) and 1,216 special needs assistant (SNA) posts in our schools. An increase on 2023, where 686 teachers and 1,194 SNAs post were provided for. As a result, over 41,500 qualified and committed people will be placed in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and allocating supports to schools and publish the allocation of SET teachers and SNA to mainstream schools annually on their website.

When a school has been allocated a SET teacher/SNA, the board of management as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy. The decision on whether to employ a full-time SET teacher or SNA to fill a full-time post, or to employ an equivalent number of part-time SNAs rests with the employer, therefore the number of special educational teacher and SNAs recruited is held at a local level.

In terms of future resourcing the funding available to the support special needs education will form part of Budget 2025 negotiations. My department will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing need as part of the annual estimates process.