John Browne
Question:157 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Education if she will appoint a remedial teacher to primary schools (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7434/97]
Written Answers - Teacher Appointments.
Liam Aylward
Question:158 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the urgent need to have a remedial teacher appointed to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will have this school placed on a priority list in view of the fact that its applications over the past number of years have been rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7436/97]
Dermot Ahern
Question:181 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education if she will accede to the request by Gaelscoil Dhún Dealgan, to have this school included in future remedial post allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7660/97]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 157, 158 and 181 together. I am aware of the case made by the schools in question for a remedial teacher service. 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.