Pat Upton
Question:55 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education the amount of money spent on the provision of second level educational facilities for language disadvantaged children; and the way in which this money was spent. [3468/95]
Written Answers. - Language Disadvantaged Children.
Support for children with language difficulties takes a number of forms.
In the first instance ordinary class teachers at second level have a degree of expertise in identifying and helping such children in the ordinary classroom situation.
In addition, the efforts of ordinary teaching staff are supported by the remedial teaching service.
At second level a total of 277 ex-quota remedial teachers are currently in place and they deliver a targeted support service to special needs children, including those with language difficulties.I propose to allocate a further 76 remedial teaching posts to second level schools with effect from the beginning of the 1995-96 school year, bringing the total number of such posts to 353. The annual cost of these posts is estimated at £7 million.
Where more acute forms of language impairment arise, the more appropriate response may be the delivery of special extra support by way of an additional teacher allocation or the establishment of a dedicated special class within an ordinary second level school. The most appropriate model of response will be determined by the severity of the problem, the number of pupils presenting and the particular circumstances of the school.