Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she plans to address the chronic under resourcing of special education needs supports and provisions for the upcoming school year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30518/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My Department will spend almost €2.8 billion on special education in 2024, which is 26% of the total annual budget for education. This is an increase of almost €1 Billion, or 47%, since 2020. This includes €13 million for the expansion of services within the NCSE. This has facilitated the recruitment of 160 extra staff, (a workforce increase of 50%) and provided for a transformational change in the structure and organisation of the NCSE.

In 2024, the number of special education teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase by 744 and 1,216 respectively to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. From 2024, we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children. Almost 1,300 new special classes have been sanctioned over the last four years and for the coming school year, there will be over 3,000 special classes operating in primary and post-primary schools. Seven new special schools have been established in recent years, and another four special schools will open in Meath, Kildare, Wexford, and Limerick for the coming school year.

There will more special education teachers in our schools in September 2024 than ever before – an increase of 1,000 from 2020/21 school year. This is in addition to a significant reduction in class sizes at primary level over three budgets to where our pupil teacher ratio at primary level is now 23:1. This means, more than ever, children with SEN in our mainstream schools are best supported to meet their needs.

Within SET allocations complex needs are now measured in two ways. Firstly, students who are performing at the lower levels in standardised tests, which indicate the greatest level of need for additional teaching support and secondly, the pupils with more complex needs and who have been exempted are given the highest weight. It is very important to clarify that the inputs to the model do not prescribe which children should receive support through the additional teaching resources, schools must adhere to the guidance on the use of SET hours and support all children with additional teaching needs.

The budget allocation for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in 2024 is €32.3m. A further €5m has also been allocated for the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot. The number of educational psychologists currently employed in NEPS stands at 228 whole time equivalents across eight regions. This is the highest number employed in NEPS since it was established.

Where schools do not have an assigned psychologist due to a vacancy, a psychologist from the local NEPS team undertakes the role of advisory psychologist to respond to queries that the school may have. Such schools continue to have access to critical incident response, advisory support, and support and development training delivered by their local NEPS team. Individual assessments for students in these schools are available where there is need, via the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

Budget 2024 reflects my department’s commitment to ongoing investment in teacher supply through various measures including the introduction of a Professional Master of Education incentive scheme for newly qualified teachers graduating in 2024. Eligible teachers can receive an incentive payment of up to €2,000, to be paid in 2025. The provision of an additional 1,000 posts of responsibility in the school system for the 2024/25 school year, recognises the vital role of school leaders in enhancing educational outcomes by fostering a positive school environment, while empowering educators and learners within their communities.

My department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024, I have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools and €345 per student in post primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and the relevant enhanced capitation rates.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This funding was the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.

In terms of future resourcing of special educational needs supports, for 2025, total government expenditure will increase by €6.9 billion or 6.9 per cent. This will result in total available current resources of €90.9 billion. Any possible further increases will be part of Budget 2025 negotiations. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek and prioritise the additional funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools as part of the annual Estimates process.