Willie Penrose
Question:609 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education if he will grant a resource teacher to Clough national school, Rathdowney, County Laois to assist in the education of a child with special needs (details supplied). [14791/97]
Written Answers - Resource Teacher.
In March 1997, the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1997-8 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 1997-8 school year.
For the current school year, a total of 31 additional resource teachers have been allocated to primary schools. This brings the total number of resource teachers in the primary system to 77.
I am at present reviewing provision across the special needs area, including the resource teaching service, to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible.
I can assure the Deputy that the needs of Clough National School will be fully considered in the context of any additional allocation of resource teachers which may be undertaken.