Following today’s cabinet meeting. I, along with my cabinet colleagues approved 610 additional Special Needs Assistant posts for schools across the country, starting in September. The additional posts were announced in detail by Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan.

Among the primary schools in Dublin 15 receiving new SNA posts are Scoil Bhride, Hansfield Educate Together and Powerstown Educate Together, while at secondary level, Riversdale Community College, Colaiste Pobail Scoil Setanta and Castleknock Community College are receiving extra SNAs.

Overall, Dublin primary schools will receive an additional 127 SNA posts, secondary schools an additional 41 posts, and there will be an extra 22 posts in special schools.

These new posts will make a real difference to pupils who most need them. They will be allocated to schools from September, which means the impact of today’s announcement will be felt quite soon.

Thanks to the recovery in our public finances, we now have the additional resources to lift the cap on the number of SNA posts. It will rise from 11,330 this school year to 11,940 next year, meaning an additional SNA 610 posts.

It means that since coming into Government we’ve overseen a 11.7% increase in the number of SNA posts.

Every child with an assessed care need will get SNA support. That has been our commitment as a Government, and I am glad to see this borne out with increased support in Dublin 15 and elsewhere.