A further €28 million is to be provided for additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) announced these posts are in addition to those previously sanctioned by the body in June for the 2012/13 school year.

These additional teaching and care support specialists will be for children who have been assessed since the summer or who may have moved school in recent months.

Chief executive of the NCSE Teresa Griffin said: "We support an inclusive education system that enables pupils with special educational needs to achieve their potential and some children need additional teaching support."

According to the NCSE, this additional investment in special education means that a further 430 additional resource teaching posts have been allocated to approximately 1,700 schools and since schools have reopened in September, the NCSE has allocated an additional 103 SNA posts to over 190 schools.

There are now more than 10,400 special needs assistant (SNA) posts in mainstream and special schools to meet the care needs of over 22,000 children.

Meanwhile, the NCSE confirmed it is still in a position to respond to urgent applications for SNA support that may arise later in the year.

Written by Donal Walsh

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