Michael Ring
Question:360 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will have arrangements made to make available a home, school and community liaison officer for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [17674/97]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Michael Ring
Question:361 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will have arrangements made to make available a teacher counsellor to assist with the education of 50 or more emotionally disturbed children for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [17675/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 361 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.
Accordingly, I am not in a position to allocate additional home-school-community liaison co-ordinators or teacher counsellors to primary schools.
I reassure the Deputy, however, that I have asked my Department's inspectorate to investigate the needs of the emotionally disturbed children referred to by him as a matter of priority.