Vol. 474 No. 1
142 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the number of additional resource teachers for children with disabilities in mainstream schools who will be appointed during 1997; and the number of current applications from schools for the appointment of a resource teacher. [2586/97]
I recently allocated ten additional resource teacher posts to the primary sector for the 1996-97 school year. A total of 46 resource teachers are now in place in the primary system and 39 of these have been appointed since I took office.
My Department currently has 46 applications on hand for resource teacher posts at primary level.
My capacity to allocate additional resource teacher posts in any year is determined by resource availability and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas. As Minister for Education, I have to consider how best to deploy available resources across a wide range of special needs, including the resource teacher area.
I am not in a position at present to indicate whether additional resource teacher posts will be available for allocation in 1997.
I am satisfied that since my appointment as Minister for Education I have achieved substantial advances across the entire spectrum of special needs. It is my intention to continue this process.
