The Government announced yesterday that it is to create 660 new posts, costing €34 million, to address the special needs crisis in primary schools.
The announcement means that special needs support should be available for every child in their school. Until now many children had to ensure a long wait for a psychological assessment before their needs were met.
Under the new system, the class teacher and the school principal should be able to respond to a child's needs.
The announcement follows a review of the allocation system for special needs children.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin had expressed concerns that some children, especially in small schools, could lose out under the so-called "weighted system". The new system puts resources permanently in place in schools. It means children should automatically receive the resources they need.
The INTO, which has campaigned vigorously on the special needs issue, described the announcement as "a good day for special needs children and their families". It paid particular tribute to both Ms Hanafin and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.
INTO general secretary John Carr said: "This announcement for the first time provides a vital framework for the allocation of resources to schools. The new framework also has the potential to substantially reduce the bureaucracy associated with accessing resources and should, therefore, reduce the administrative burden on school principals."
Ms Hanafin said the new posts would "ensure that children will have access to resource teaching support as soon as they need it without having to wait for an individual application to be posted".
The INTO estimates that about 19 per cent of primary children have specific learning needs such as dyslexia or reading difficulties.
Each primary school will be allocated resource teaching hours, based on their enrolment figures, to cater for the specific needs of these pupils. Pupils with more serious special needs such as autism will continue to be catered for on an individual basis.
Of the 660 jobs, 340 are permanent posts in primary schools from September. A further 320 are being provided on a temporary basis during the transition to the new system. This means that children who have previously been given an individual allocation will not lose out as a result of the introduction of the new system.
At a press briefing yesterday, Ms Hanafin said the previous system of allocation was cumbersome and "bogged down".
Ms Hanafin said other advantages of the new system included:
Mr Carr said the announcement was a "major investment by the Government in the social fabric of the State".