Vol. 468 No. 4
526 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the number of classroom assistants assisting children with disabilities in each county; and the number of applications for funding for classroom assistants which have been received by her Department. [15901/96]
I am aware of the important role which child care assistants play in assisting children with special needs attending special schools. Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have allocated an additional 150 child care assistants to special schools bringing the total in place to 232. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need following recommendations from the Department's Primary Inspectorate and having regard to data supplied by schools.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of classroom assistants assisting children with disabilities in each county and the number of applications for funding for classroom assistants which have been received by my Department is not readily available. However, I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as it is prepared.
