Noel Dempsey
Question:168 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education when she will appoint a remedial teacher to Robinstown, Dunderry and Kilbride national schools. [11432/96]
Written Answers. - Allocation of Remedial Teachers.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:172 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the number of remedial teachers allocated per county. [11460/96]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:173 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the number of remedial teachers allocated per school in County Donegal. [11461/96]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:174 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the needs of approximately 700 students in five schools (details supplied) in County Donegal who have no remedial help in spite of the fact that a school inspector recommended the schools should have two such teachers shared between them. [11462/96]
Phil Hogan
Question:189 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education the timescale whereby further appointments will be made to primary schools in respect of remedial teachers; the timescale involved which is likely to lead to an appointment being made to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11639/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 172, 173, 174 and 189 together.
I am not in a position at present to make additional remedial teacher posts available to primary schools.
Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have allocated an additional 241 remedial teachers to the primary sector. A total of 1,188 remedial teachers are now in place and the percentage of pupils who have access to a remedial service has increased from 77 per cent to 87 per cent. In the specific case of County Donegal, 106 of the 178 primary schools in the county now have the services of a remedial teacher. A detailed breakdown of remedial teachers per county follows.
I consider that the substantial improvements which I have already achieved in this area provide practical confirmation of my commitment to the needs of the children in question.
However, as Minister for Education I have to consider how best to deploy available resources across a wider range of special needs. I have to determine priorities and try to allocate resources to best effect.
During the period 1994-95, in addition to allocating an extra 155 remedial teachers, I adopted a particular focus on the needs of children attending special schools and classes. In addition to reducing the pupil-teacher ratios in all such facilities, I provided a very substantial increase in the special capitation rates applicable in such cases.
In the current year, I have adopted particular focus on children who suffer from educational disadvantage and have sought to target resources into this area in an effort to break the cycle of disadvantage. As part of this approach, I recently launched a major new initiative aimed at bringing special targeted assistance to children in selected urban and rural areas who suffer serious educational disadvantage.
I am satisfied that since my appointment as Minister for Education I have achieved substantial advances across the entire spectrum of special needs, including the remedial area. It is my intention to continue this process.
County Breakdown of Remedial Teachers at Primary Level.
|
County |
No. of Posts |
|
Carlow |
15 |
|
Cavan |
15 |
|
Clare |
30 |
|
Cork |
137 |
|
Donegal |
37 |
|
Dublin |
368 |
|
Galway |
52 |
|
Kerry |
38 |
|
Kildare |
43 |
|
Kilkenny |
25 |
|
Laois |
16 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
|
Limerick |
64 |
|
Longford |
12 |
|
Louth |
36 |
|
Mayo |
32 |
|
Meath |
34 |
|
Monaghan |
17 |
|
Offaly |
23 |
|
Roscommon |
14 |
|
Sligo |
17 |
|
Tipperary |
38 |
|
Waterford |
30 |
|
Westmeath |
24 |
|
Wexford |
33 |
|
Wicklow |
31 |
|
Total |
1,188 |