Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Jul 1995

Vol. 455 No. 4

Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

109 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education the basis for her decision to grant 20 posts to the Tallaght-Clondalkin area, seven posts to the north inner city area of Dublin for teacher-counsellors and not a single teacher-counsellor to the south inner city of Dublin; the policy decisions on the basis of which it was allowed that the north inner city's level of poverty was seven times greater than the level of poverty in the south inner city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12288/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The Deputy will be aware that I have recently introduced a pilot scheme under which special counsellor teacher posts have been allocated to assist schools in addressing particular problems with disruptive-disturbed pupils.

The pilot scheme has been introduced in the Tallaght-Clondalkin area and in the north inner city area of Dublin.

A total of 27 counsellor teacher posts have been allocated under this initiative.

Decisions for the allocation of these posts to the schools in question were made following a study of detailed data on the precise nature and level of difficulty encountered in these area.

The needs of the schools referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the context of any further allocation of special teaching counsellor posts.