Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 4

Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.

Mary Harney

Question:

200 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education if she will appoint a full-time remedial teacher to Scoil Íde and Scoil Áine, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 to replace the current arrangement of a shared remedial teacher between both schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4885/97]

Willie O'Dea

Question:

201 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Education her views on whether a strong case exists for the provision of a remedial teacher to Caherelly national school (details supplied) in County Limerick which has been seeking such a facility since 1988; and if she will appoint a remedial teacher to that school. [4886/97]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

202 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education whether she will appoint a remedial teacher to St. Mary's national school, Malin Head, County Donegal for the forthcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4899/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 201 and 202 together.

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.

I am not in a position at present to allocate additional remedial teachers to primary schools.

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.

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.

When I am next in a position to extend the remediation service, the needs of the schools in question will receive every consideration.