Bertie Ahern
Question:136 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Education when the services of a remedial teacher will be supplied to schools (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5639/97]
Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.
Noel Treacy
Question:141 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction appointments at schools (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which this will be done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5654/97]
Brendan Smith
Question:144 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the need to provide a remedial teaching service at a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; the proposals, if any, she has to make an appointment in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5672/97]
Donal Moynihan
Question:170 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education when she will appoint remedial teachers to schools (details supplied) in County Cork. [5872/97]
Michael P. Kitt
Question:179 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Education if she will consider appointing remedial and resource teachers in schools (details supplied) in County Galway during the academic year 1996/97. [5985/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 141, 144, 170 and 179 together.
I am not in a position at present to allocate additional remedial or resource teachers to primary schools.
Remedial teacher posts and resource 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.
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 have also allocated an extra 39 resource teacher posts at primary level bringing the total number in place to 46.
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 to 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 and resource area. It is my intention to continue this process.
When I am next in a position to appoint remedial or resource teachers, the needs of the schools in question will receive every consideration.