Vol. 437 No. 2
176 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if she intends to appoint additional remedial teachers for primary schools to commence in September 1994; and, if so, if schools currently sharing a remedial teacher will be considered for a full time remedial teacher.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for a Partnerhip Government made a specific commitment to the appointment of a very substantial number of additional remedial teachers by September 1996.
As part of this commitment I approved the appointment of an additional 86 remedial teachers in the current school year, bringing the total now in place to 1,033.
I anticipate that current demographic trends will give me further opportunities to address the position of special needs pupils in 1994 and I am currently considering ways of using these trends to best advantage in areas such as remedial teaching.
The needs of all schools, including schools which currently have the services of a shared remedial teacher, will be considered in the context of this development.
