Vol. 456 No. 2
14 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to those who sought and were offered child care jobs in special schools; when these positions will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13481/95]
62 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the position in relation to the withdrawal of approval for one of the child care assistants at St. Brigid's Special School, Ard Easmuinn, Dundalk, County Louth, in view of the urgent need for assistants in the school and the fact that both appointees had been selected and notified accordingly. [13314/95]
71 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education the reasons 31 of the proposed child care assistant posts sanctioned for 1995 were withdrawn; whether it is deemed necessary by the Minister to target the already disadvantaged in our society for cutbacks in view of the commitment of the Government to equal opportunity for all our children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13648/95]
72 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education the reason the post of child care assistant sanctioned for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has been withdrawn; the criteria used by her in arriving at her decision; whether she considers the pupils of the school mentioned to be less disadvantaged than others; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13649/95]
73 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education the reason the post of child care assistant sanctioned for a school (details supplied) in County Carlow has been withdrawn; the criteria used by her in arriving at her decision; whether she considers the pupils of the school mentioned to be less disadvantaged than others; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13650/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 62, 71, 72 and 73 together. I am pleased to inform the House that the issue in question has now been resolved in a manner which, I am confident, will satisfy all the parties concerned. The provision of child care assistants has been reviewed by my Department in the context of resources available for the education sector in 1995 and the likely provision for 1996, taking into account the Government's policy on the curtailment generally of public sector expenditure. As a result of this review, I am pleased to be in a position to inform the Deputies that all of the 100 extra child care assistant posts, which I announced earlier this year, will be appointed for the 1995-96 school year. All the schools affected by this decision have already been notified by my Department.
