Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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405. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if sufficient supports in school are being provided for a pupil (details supplied) with dyslexia. [15292/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

By the end of the year there will be over 20,800 special educational teachers and 23,400 special needs assistants (SNAs) in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,200 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

Allocations of special education teaching (SET) posts for the next school year have recently been provided to schools and SNA allocations will be confirmed by the NCSE to schools in quarter two this year.

The department recognises the importance of providing well-timed and appropriate support to students with identified learning needs.

Schools are frontloaded with ring-fenced SET resources for the purpose of supporting students with an identified special education learning need. The allocation allows schools to provide additional teaching support for students who require such support.

It is a matter for schools to deploy SET resources effectively to meet the needs identified in student support plans, based on the continuum of support framework. Any school that has any concerns on their allocation can engage with the NCSE. The NCSE will provide support to schools as required and will examine if the allocation is sufficient to meet the identified needs of all children and young people enrolled.

Where the NCSE identifies the need for additional resources, my department will immediately approve the identified increase so that it is available to the school ahead of the 2025/26 school year.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.