I wish to thank you, Sir, for allowing my question on the Adjournment and I wish also to thank the Minister of State for coming here to take the question.
It is recognised that there is a chronic problem in remedial education at first level, and certainly at second level, and one of the biggest problems in the education system is the lack of resources for dealing with slow learners in the conventional school scheme. There is a shortage but I acknowledge that in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress the Minister made a gesture in recognition of this by including section 69 (e) which provides that:
A phased programme, starting in 1992-93 and for completion in 1994-95 will be introduced to provide for the recognition on an ex-quota basis of 0.5 of a wholetime post for guidance in secondary and community/ comprehensive schools in the 350-499 enrolment category.
Similarly an additional 60 posts will be allocated to post-primary schools in disadvantaged areas. This is a small gesture of recognition of the problem. However, the problem will not get better over the years particularly in view of the fact that the Department have run their own short term release courses for training approximately 40 plus special teachers each year. What has happened is that this year that number has been reduced to something in the mid-twenties, despite the fact that there is an increasing demand.
I have been inundated with correspondence from teachers who want to get on those courses but cannot get a place because of the restriction on numbers and also from teachers who have taken it upon themselves, on their own initiative, to attend courses run in UCG. There is a very commendable course — the diploma in compensatory and remedial education — a one year fulltime course to teach pupils with learning difficulties and special needs. This course is recognised by the Department of Education for the purpose of teacher secondment and release. I have been approached by four teachers from different school categories, who are taking part in this course — two from the voluntary non-fee paying secondary school sector, one from a vocational school in County Mayo and from the community school sector in the Midlands. Without exception, they had to employ a substitute teacher at his or her own expense.
The Department have the power to agree to a paid substitute secondment but have not chosen to use it. I can give an example of a teacher in the south-east in a fee-paying secondary school with an open intake policy which has 600 pupils. The school has no remedial expertise among the existing staff. The school has tried for some years to get some of the existing staff on the Department's remedial course, but because this teacher is not being funded from the school it is costing him in the region of £6,000 to £7,000 net to attend this course. I concede there is recognition for tax relief purposes of the substitute's payment but after claiming this relief it is still costing this teacher between £6,000 and £7,000 to go on the course; this includes course fees, subsistence, texts costing over £200, travel, etc. apart from the inconvenience of being absent from home and from school. When this is taken in conjunction with the fact there is no additional salary for this extra qualification, it shows that the Department are being remiss in this area. I am asking the Department of Education to recognise and reward the commitment of teachers who, of their own volition, on their own initiative, without prompting from anybody or without pressure from the school, have undertaken to be away from home for several months of the year out of concern for the children who cannot cope with the conventional curriculum and because of their commitment to their job. I fail to understand why the Department should make an exception of this category of teacher. People who undertake other courses, teachers who undertake a diploma in special care, training and tuition for the deaf or the blind, receive £802 per annum.
When members of the Garda Síochána seek leave of absence to undertake a course of study, in a particular discipline they receive payment, and the same thing applies in the Civil Service proper and people who want to better themselves receive a financial reward. This is a good cause and is worthy of serious consideration. I ask the commitment and diligence of these people be treated seriously and that they would receive some financial compensation for their efforts.
