Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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498. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which special needs teachers and SNAs continue to be available to the extent required in County Kildare, and all areas throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45221/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs and schools should liaise directly with the NCSE in the event that additional supports are required.

In 2024, the number of special education teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase by 744 and 1,216 respectively to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children. This figure will be built on as Budget 2025 provides for a further 768 special education teachers and 1,600 SNAs posts meaning there will be close to 44,000 dedicated special education professionals in our education system.

It is important to remember that the Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation model distributes the total available number of special education teacher posts in line with each school’s profile of need. This year there will be 14,600 special education teachers supporting mainstream classes, which is an increase of 1,000 since the end of the 2021 school year. This is the highest number of SET teachers ever in our schools.

In addition, to ensure timely reviews and reduce the administrate burden on school my department has been working with the NCSE to streamline the SNAs review process. The NCSE issued revised guidelines to schools at the start of the current school year to outline the arrangements for SNA reviews from September 2024.

It is open to all schools to apply for a review of their SET or SNA allocation if it feels it allocation is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Local special education needs organisers (SENOs) are available to advise and assist schools with the review process and to offer advice and support as required.

The NCSE has recruited additional SENOs, advisors and team managers. SENOs play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas. The number of SENOs has increased to 120 nationwide. There are now 5 SENOs operating in County Kildare. SENOs are currently visiting schools to conduct planning meetings. These visits will be key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/26 school year.