Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2016
121. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money provided under the Revised Estimates for 2016 in order to address demographic increases in the school population; if this figure is included in the Revised Estimates or addressed separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17709/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe costs arising from demographic increases in the school population must be met from within the Revised Estimates for my Department for 2016, which the House debated on 15th June.
Specific provision was made as part of Budget 2016 to provide for certain costs in the school system arising from increased demographics.
An additional allocation of some €58 million was included in the Estimates, primarily to cover the costs of around 810 additional mainstream teachers and additional capitation arising from demographic increases.
Demographic increases also account in part for increased levels of demand for resource teachers and special needs assistants for children with special educational needs. Budget 2016 provided some €64 million for an estimated 600 additional resource teachers and I recently announced an increase in the number of Special Needs Assistants to 12,900.
