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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 4

Written Answers - Teaching Posts.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

176 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the criteria used in selecting schools to which resource and remedial teachers were appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20874/96]

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

196 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the progress, if any, which has been made regarding the supply of a teacher for the Westmeath Down's Syndrome Association. [21037/96]

Mary O'Rourke

Question:

198 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will review the need for the appointment of a resource teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [21039/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 196 and 198 together.

Resource teacher and remedial teacher posts are allocated to schools on the basis of priority of need as determined by my Department following the collection and analysis of data from schools by my Department's inspectorate. The allocation of such posts is also subject to resource availability in any given year. Factors taken into account in the selection process would include the number of children with special needs attending a particular school and the nature and extent of the special needs in question.

My Department has received applications for resource teachers in both of the cases mentioned by Deputy O'Rourke. The cases in question were among those considered in the context of the recent allocation of ten extra resource teachers to the primary sector.

However, neither of the cases mentioned by the Deputy was considered to be of such priority as to warrant inclusion in the recent resource teacher allocation.

As Minister for Education, I have to consider how best to deploy available resources across a wide range of special needs. I have to determine priorities and try to allocate resources to best effect. In the current year, in addition to allocating the ten resource teacher posts, 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.

I will continue to review provision across the special needs area and in the event of additional resources becoming available in the future, the cases to which Deputy O'Rourke refers will be given every consideration.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

177 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of resource teachers and remedial teachers appointed in County Galway in 1996; the names of the schools to which they were appointed; and whether she intends making further appointments during 1996. [20875/96]

A total of ten additional resource teacher posts have been allocated nationally for the current school year. Two of these posts have been allocated to schools in County Galway. Details of the Galway schools in question are attached.

No additional remedial teachers have been appointed in the current year. I have no plans to allocate further resource teacher or remedial teacher posts in 1996.
Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have allocated a total of 241 remedial teacher posts and 39 resource teacher posts to the primary sector. A total of 1,188 remedial teachers and 46 resource teachers are now in place. 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 achieved in this area provide practical confirmation of my commitment to the needs of the children in question.
List of County Galway Schools which were provided with a Resource Teacher Service in 1996.

School

Roll No.

Salerna NS

12,706

Spidéal (B)

17,455

Spidéal (C)

17,556

SN Tulach

18,514

SN Rosabhíl

12,946

An Turlach Beag, Ros Muc

11,373

Gort Mór

17,463

SN Chiaráin

17,574

SN an Aird Mhóir

10,591

Naomh Colmán, Muighinis, Cárna

17,770

Ard

14,421

Muighrois

18,263

Scoil Mhuire, Cárna

18,121

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