Eamon Gilmore
Question:49 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to make special assistance available to schools which have experienced a rise in enrolments of students from different cultures. [25363/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
At present all children and young people, of whatever nationality or status, who are in the country, are free to attend primary and second level schools and staffing is provided to schools on the basis of the increased enrolments resulting from the attendance of non-national pupils. Additional hours are made available to second level schools which have non-national pupils, with English language difficulties, enrolled.
In the last school year 15 additional teachers were sanctioned to cater for the specific English language needs of non-national pupils in 21 primary schools and a further 15 posts were sanctioned at the beginning of this school year to cater specifically for the needs of the Kosovan pupils in the primary schools in the nine centres at which they are located.
At present the position is being reviewed to see what other assistance can be made available to schools which have experienced a rise in enrolments of students from different cultures. This is being done in the context of the urgent examination being carried out by the various Departments which provide services to non-nationals.