I am aware of the concerns raised by the Deputy in relation to the short-term nature of assignments undertaken by child care assistants employed by schools under FÁS schemes. However, the operation of FÁS schemes is not a matter for my Department.
I am not in a position at present to make any additional child care assistant posts available to any schools.
I am conscious of the important role which child care assistants play in assisting children with special needs attending special schools. Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have allocated an additional 150 child care assistants to special schools, bringing the total now in place to 232.
I consider that the substantial improvements which I have already achieved in this area provides practical confirmation of my commitment to the needs of the children in question.
However, as Minister for Education I have to consider how best to deploy available resources across a wider range of special needs. I have to determine priorities and try to allocate resources to best effect.
During the period 1994-95, in addition to allocating an extra 150 child care assistants, I adopted a particular focus on the needs of children attending special schools and classes. In addition to reducing the pupil teacher ratios in all such facilities, I provided a very substantial increase in the special capitation rates applicable in such cases.
In the current school year, I have adopted a particular focus on children who suffer from educational disadvantage and have sought to target resources into this area in an effort to break the cycle of disadvantage. As part of this approach, I recently launched a major new initiative aimed at bringing special targeted assistance to children in selected urban and rural areas who suffer serious educational disadvantage.
I am satisfied that since my appointment as Minister for Education I have achieved substantial advances across the entire spectrum of special needs, including the child care area. It is my intention to continue this process.