Further cuts for special needs pupils

Children with special needs face further cuts to resource teaching as the Government forces schools to cater for more pupils without increased staffing levels.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will face a backlash from parents as schools learn today how a combination of rising enrolments and a cap on special needs staff will mean less time for pupils with their resource teachers or children being taught in larger groups in September.

The Irish Examiner understands that just 75% of resource teaching recommended for children with a range of disabilities could be given to their schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), down from 85% in the past school year. This would mean an effective year-on-year cut of 12% for children with autism, visual or hearing impairment, Down’s syndrome, and others, with the prospect of further cuts later in the year if their schools have to support additional pupils.