Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 6

Written Answers. - Remedial Teachers.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

90 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education whether she has received an application from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 for the appointment of a remedial teacher: if her attention has been drawn to statistics provided by the school which indicate that a substantial number of children require remedial reading attention: and whether she will sanction a remedial teacher appointment in respect of this school from September 1996 in view of the school's needs, including the fact that it is a school designated as disadvantaged with an enrolment of over 200 pupils. [11963/96]

Micheál Martin

Question:

91 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will approve the allocation of a remedial teacher to Bonniconlon, Cahra and Breaffy national schools, Ballina, County Mayo. [11968/96]

Michael Smith

Question:

97 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Education whether she will immediately appoint a remedial teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Offaly. [12026/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 91 and 97 together. I am aware of the case made by the school mentioned by Deputy Eric Byrne in support of its application for a remedial teacher. I am not in a position at present to make additional remedial teacher posts available to primary schools. I will continue to review needs in this area and consider how best these needs can be addressed within available resources. The needs of all schools, including the schools mentioned by the Deputies, will be considered in this context.

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. 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 school year, I have adopted a 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.