Vol. 480 No. 6
556 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education whether a classroom assistant has been approved for a child with cerebral palsy (details supplied) in County Mayo; whether any such arrangements have been approved in the country; and the plans, if any, he has to implement such a system. [14269/97]
583 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if he will make the necessary funding available to appoint a child care assistant in order that a young girl (details supplied) in County Carlow, who is almost seven years of age and in a wheel-chair can attend primary school in view of the fact that this child has been assessed and found eligible to attend school. [14569/97]
584 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if he will instruct the South Eastern Health Board to have a child care assistant appointed in order that a girl (details supplied) in County Carlow, who is almost seven years of age and in a wheelchair, can attend primary school in view of the fact that this child has been assessed and found eligible to attend school. [14581/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 556, 583 and 584 together.
In March 1997, the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1997-98 school year with the Irish National Teachers Organisation.
These agreed arrangements were based on the allocation of surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year.
Unfortunately, therefore, I am not in a position to allocate any further posts to primary schools at present.
My Department's capacity to allocate child care assistant posts in any year is entirely dependent on resource availability and the level of competing demand across the special needs area. Where such posts do become available, they are allocated on the basis of priority of need.
To-date, all such posts have been targeted on special schools and special classes catering specifically for children with disabilities.
I am at present reviewing provision across the special needs area to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible. I will be considering the issue of child care assistant support as part of this review. I can assure the Deputies that the needs of the children in question will be considered in this context.
It would be inappropriate for me to instruct the South Eastern Health Board in this matter as the Board does not come within the aegis of the Department of Education.
