Michael Finucane
Question:494 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application for a remedial teacher for schools (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15578/96]
Written Answers. - Remedial Teachers.
Tony Killeen
Question:519 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools in County Clare which do not have the services of a remedial teacher available to them; and the total enrolment of these schools in September 1995. [15752/96]
Tony Killeen
Question:520 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Education the number of new remedial teachers that will be appointed to schools in County Clare in September 1996. [15753/96]
Síle de Valera
Question:546 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the serious concern in County Clare in regard to the proposal of the non-appointment of any remedial teachers to the county in September 1996; and the plans, if any, she has in this regard. [16032/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 494, 519, 520 and 546 together.
I am not in a position at present to make additional remedial teacher posts available to the schools referred to by the Deputies or to any primary schools. The total number of ordinary national schools in County Clare is 122, 63 of these schools, with an enrolment of 8,941 pupils on 30 September 1995, have the services of a remedial teacher available to them. The number of ordinary national schools in County Clare which do not have the services of a remedial teacher is 62. The combined enrolment of the 62 schools on 30 September 1995 was 3,294.
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 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 1994-1995, 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.