Update: Educational Requirements of Children with Special Needs – Education and Science 27th November, 2014

Uimhir:10

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her ongoing provisions and/or
proposals to meet the educational requirements of children with special needs
at primary and second level; the extent to which adequate places, special needs
teachers and special needs assistants are currently provided for and are likely
to be augmented in the course of the current year; if her Department has
identified any particular deficiencies in areas of population expansion; if
urban or rural settings have particular requirements in this regard; and if she
will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 27th November, 2014.
Reference Number: 45092/14

Minister Jan O’Sullivan

Expenditure supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs in 2015 will
amount to over €1.3bn, which is equivalent to approximately 17% of the overall
allocation for education and training.

These resources have been protected, or in some areas increased, despite
requirements to make expenditure savings in other areas.

As part of Budget 2015, I recently announced that an additional 365 Special
Needs Assistant posts would be provided in 2015, as well as an additional 480
Resource Teachers, to take into account increased demand and demographic growth
and to ensure that children can continue to have access to additional supports
in school.

In addition, over 130 new Special Classes have been established for the 2014/15
school year.

The NCSE will continue to plan and coordinate the provision of education and
support services to ensure that the educational requirements of children with
special needs can continue to be met in all areas.