Vol. 450 No. 8
137 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education the progress, if any, with the educational assessment of children with learning difficulties in view of the fact that currently a child can be waiting from 18 months to two years and her views on whether a child's development or lack of it should be dealt with immediately as time waits for no child. [5875/95]
The educational needs of children with learning difficulties are generally capable of being met within the ordinary school system, with the assistance, where appropriate, of a remedial teacher. Fully qualified primary teachers are trained to deal with a variety of learning difficulties.
There are 1,133 full-time remedial teachers employed in primary schools. These teachers are concerned with the prevention and remediation of learning disabilities. As I recently announced, I intend to allocate an additional 55 remedial posts to national schools in 1995. The responsibility for the educational assessment of children is a matter for the health authorities through the director of community care.
