Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - Remedial Teacher Posts.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

180 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education the criteria for appointing full-time and shared remedial teachers in primary schools; the number of full-time and the number of shared remedial teachers working in primary schools in each of the academic years from 1991-92 to 1995-96; the number of primary schools covered in each category; the number of primary schools without a remedial teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6991/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Remedial teacher posts are allocated to the primary school sector on the basis of priority of need following assessment by my Department's primary inspectorate and having regard to data supplied by applicant schools.

The total number of remedial teachers working in primary schools either on a full-time or shared basis in each of the academic years from 1991-92 to 1995-96 was as follows:

Academic Year	Number of Remedial Posts
1991-92	947
1992-93	947
1993-94	1,033
1994-95	1,133
1995-96	1,188

Of the 1,188 remedial teachers currently in place, 651 work on a full-time basis in individual schools. The remaining 537 remedial teachers operate on a shared basis. Comparable data for the earlier years mentioned is not readily available in my Department.

A breakdown between the number of schools served by full-time and shared remedial teachers is not readily available.

Of the 3,203 ordinary primary schools in the country, 918 schools do not currently have a remedial service.

I am not in a position at present to make additional remedial teacher posts available. Any decision on further remedial teacher allocations will be taken in the light of the level of identified need and resource availability.