Vol. 482 No. 4
111 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the total number of teaching posts retained in national schools under the demographic dividend in 1997; and the way in which such posts were allocated between such areas as additional remedial teachers, reducing class size and services to schools designated disadvantaged and special schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18300/97]
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 the 409 surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year.
In terms of the special needs areas to which the Deputy refers, additional allocations for the 1997-98 school year have included 51 additional remedial teachers, 26 additional resource teachers and seven additional visiting teachers.
Extra posts have also been targeted on services for children with serious disabilities, including those with severe or profound mental handicap, whose needs are such as to require placement in special schools or special classes.
