Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2024
878. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special educational needs who had access to special needs assistants in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33708/24]
View answerEnabling 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.
As the deputy is aware the NCSE allocate special needs assistant (SNA) resources to mainstream schools as a school resource. These resources are then managed by the individual principal/board of management with the understanding that these resources should be deployed in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled for whom support has been allocated. This method allows schools greater flexibility in how these supports are utilised.
All schools must deploy their SNA resources in line with the continuum of support. Primacy within the continuum of support is that the child with the greatest level of need is provided with the greatest level of support, as a result the number of students supported is maintained at a local level.
Since 2011, the number of SNAs in schools has increased by 113%. Budget 2024 provided for an additional 1,216 SNA posts in our schools an increase on 2023 where 1,194 SNAs post were provided. This brings to over 21,500 the number of SNAs in our education system.
My department and the NCSE are committed to building on these numbers and 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.
