Vol. 475 No. 3
92 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the ever increasing numbers of dysfunctional and difficult children at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if she intends to address the staffing complement and recognise the need for a counsellor teacher, a resource teacher and facilities for in-school counselling at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4738/97]
I am aware that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for additional staffing to address a range of current difficulties.
The school in question is already included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and as such enjoys a maximum class size of 29:1 and has the services of an ex-quota concessionary teacher post. By virtue of its disadvantaged status, the school also receives a special increased level of capitation funding.
The school in question is also included in the home-school-community liaison scheme where it shares the services of a locally based co-ordinator with another local school. The school has also been allocated a remedial teacher post on a fulltime basis.
My capacity to allocate teacher counsellor posts and resource teacher posts is governed by resource availability in any given year. The teacher counsellor scheme was introduced on a pilot basis in 1995 with the appointment of 27 teacher counsellors to selected schools in the north inner city and Clondalkin areas of Dublin. The operation of the pilot scheme will be reviewed by my Department and the outcome of this review will determine the future course of the scheme.
In the current school year, I allocated a total of 10 resource teacher posts to primary schools. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need as reflected by data submitted by applicant schools. When I am next in a position to allocate additional teacher posts to special needs children, the needs of the school in question will receive every consideration.
