The Minister for Education and Science, Ms Hanafin, yesterday announced the appointment of 295 additional special-needs assistants (SNAs) in approximately 500 primary schools at a cost of €6 million.
However, the final number of extra assistants could be significantly higher. This is because many of the posts, while part-time, will be equivalent to 295 full-time posts.
In a move broadly welcomed by the teaching unions, Ms Hanafin also announced a review of the proposed "weighted" system of special-needs allocation introduced by her predecessor, Mr Noel Dempsey. She said she was conscious of difficulties that could arise for small and rural schools if implemented in its current form next year.
And she confirmed that no school would lose its existing special-needs provision under the new system, unless the student in question no longer needed such support.
Announcing the new appointments, which brings to 6,000 the number of assistants in Irish schools, Ms Hanafin acknowledged that "the speed of response to special-needs applications has been too slow". She was "determined to ensure faster provision for children who need support" and would ensure that any remaining applications would be dealt with speedily.
SNAs help with the health and safety requirements of special- needs children in schools.
The review of the allocation system would aim to ensure it provided an automatic response for students with mild learning disabilities, without the need for "cumbersome" individual applications, Ms Hanafin said.
To be conducted in consultation with educational interests and the National Council for Special Education, she said it will also ensure "no child loses a support that they currently have".
While welcoming the announcements, both the INTO and the ASTI warned yesterday much remained to be done in the area of special-needs provision at primary and secondary level.
Mr John Carr, general secretary of the INTO, said he welcomed Ms Hanafin's decision to review the allocation system and her commitment that no child would lose a support they currently enjoy.
"The Minister has taken on board INTO concerns about the proposed new way of appointing resource teachers to schools," he said. "The INTO is concerned that if it goes ahead as planned small schools will be badly hit."
Mr John White, acting general secretary of the ASTI, also welcomed the new appointments.
However, the ASTI was anxious that special-needs students would be able to transfer to second level, "without the necessity for a further bureaucratic exercise" of applying for new resources.
"Mainstreaming of special- needs pupils is going to become a full torrent at second level in the coming years, " he said.