Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 7

Written Answers. - Special Teacher Posts.

Robert Molloy

Question:

20 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Education the reason the embargo on special teacher posts pertaining to the traveller visiting teacher service was not lifted in conjunction with the removal of the embargo on all other special teacher posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18057/96]

The Deputy will be aware that the proposed appointment of additional visiting teachers for travellers was unable to proceed in 1995 due to the Government's need to curtail the growth of numbers in the public sector. However, appointments of teachers to special schools and to special classes, including classes catering for traveller children, were not affected by the Government's decision and continued in the normal way.

In September 1996 posts becoming surplus as a result of falling enrolments again became available for distribution within the primary school sector. The process of finalising decisions on the allocation of these posts in the special needs areas has recently been completed by my Department.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that one of the special needs areas selected for additional support on this occasion is the visiting teacher service for travellers. I have decided to allocate an additional three posts to this service in the current school year. The posts in question will be advertised shortly. I hope to be in a position to announce further teacher post allocations to other special needs areas in the near future.

Top
Share