Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:127 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Education when she intends to sanction the appointment of a remedial teacher to service three schools (details supplied) in County Galway. [12245/96]
Written Answers. - Remedial Teachers.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:128 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education if she will give a breakdown in numbers and locations of the allocation of remedial teachers to the 106 out of 178 schools in County Donegal; and the locations of the other 72 primary schools. [12256/96]
Donal Moynihan
Question:131 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education when she proposes to appoint a remedial teacher to schools (details supplied) in County Cork. [12279/96]
Donal Moynihan
Question:132 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education when she proposes to appoint a remedial teacher to schools (details supplied) in County Cork. [12280/96]
Donal Moynihan
Question:133 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education when she proposes to appoint a remedial teacher to schools (details supplied) in County Cork. [12281/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 128, 131, 132 and 133 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.
The substantial improvements 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 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. My Department does not have the information required by Deputy Keaveney readily available. However, I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.