Quinn: Schools must go that extra mile after cuts

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn wants schools and teachers to “go that extra mile” to make up for a 15% cut in special needs teaching.

While mainstream teachers will be allocated to schools based on unchanged pupil-teacher ratios next year, pupils with special needs will continue to get less than the recommended levels of support.

Mr Quinn told the National Council for Special Education to sanction resource teaching at 90% of recommended levels in autumn 2011, and cut it to 85% ahead of the current school year because of growing demand.