Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 7

Written Answers. - County Wexford Schools.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

133 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the lack of utility room space for medical and dental treatment and remedial teaching at Clohamon national school, County Wexford; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the board of management has applied for temporary accommodation; if so, if she will provide this accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18211/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach):

My Department has no record of having received an application for extra accommodation at Clohamon national school. If the board of management applies for additional accommodation, the matter will be considered by my Department.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

134 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the long delay in the paying of a grant for works carried out at Clohamon national school, County Wexford, following a fire; when she will pay the amount due to the board of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18212/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach):

I am aware that the works carried out at Clohamon national school as a result of a fire are now complete. The relevant invoices were referred to my Department's technical advisers for certification.

Due to pressure of work in the Office of Public Works district office a final inspection has not been carried out. I have arranged for this inspection to be carried out within the next two weeks. On receipt of the required certification a grant will be sanctioned and arrangements will be made to pay the amount due.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

135 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Tombrack, Ballyrobuch and Clohamon national schools, County Wexford do not have the services of a remedial teacher; her views on whether there is a necessity for such a teacher to service these three schools; if so, if she will provide these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18213/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach):

I am aware that the schools in question do not currently have the services of a remedial teacher.

My capacity to allocate remedial teacher posts in any given year is determined by resource availability in that year. I am not in a position at present to allocate additional remedial teachers to primary schools. When I am next in a position to extend the remediation service, the needs of the schools in question will receive every consideration.

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.

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.