Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Remedial Teachers.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

472 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education if she will give a breakdown in numbers and locations of the allocated remedial teachers for the 106 out of 178 schools in County Donegal; and the locations of the other 72 primary schools as promised in her written reply to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of Wednesday, 12 June 1996. [15379/96]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

473 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the current position in relation to having a remedial teacher appointed to schools (details supplied) in County Donegal. [15380/96]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

474 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the current position in relation to having a remedial teacher appointed to schools (details supplied) in County Donegal. [15381/96]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

475 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the current position in relation to having a remedial teacher appointed to Scoil Naomh Brid, Muff, County Donegal. [15382/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 472, 473, 474 and 475 together.

The detailed information requested by the Deputy regarding the breakdown in numbers and locations of the schools which have a remedial service and the schools in County Donegal which do not have a remedial service, is not available yet. However, this information is currently being compiled within my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available. 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. 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 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.