Brian Cowen
Question:145 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Education the number of remedial teachers and resource teachers she has appointed in the County Offaly primary school sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7373/97]
Written Answers - Teacher Appointments.
There are currently 23 remedial teaching posts allocated to primary schools in County Offaly. Seven of these appointments were made during my period as Minister for Education. It is estimated that 89 per cent of primary school pupils in County Offaly now have access to a remedial service.
There are no resource teachers in place in schools in County Offaly at present. The role of the resource teacher is to support ordinary teaching staff in dealing with children with certain disabilities who are attending primary schools on an integrated basis. Resource teacher posts are allocated on the basis of priority of need as determined by my Department's Inspectorate following the collection and analysis of data from schools. Such allocations are also subject to resource availability in any given year.