Special needs cuts hit thousands of children [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 14 April 2011
THOUSANDS of children with special needs will have their resource teaching hours cut in September because of unexpected levels of demand.
The Department of Education is just 100 posts short of a limit on special education teacher numbers under overall staffing restrictions imposed as part of the EU/IMF bailout.
While 2010 data suggests 400 more resource teaching posts could be needed by the end of the year, the Irish Examiner has learned that schools are to be told they will have to share existing special teaching hours among all pupils.
The 300 posts which would go unapproved as a result could cost around €13.5 million a year, but the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said the department has spent the same amount in recent years fighting parents who try to get a fair deal for their children with special needs.
There are 9,856 resource teaching and learning support posts at primary and second level, but the department has only made provision for 9,950 this year.
