Vol. 482 No. 8
276 Mr. Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Science the provision, if any, he has made to appoint a classroom assistant and extend the hours of the remedial teacher in view of the special needs of pupils attending a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [19531/97]
I am aware of the case made by the school in question for the additional supports to which the Deputy refers. In March 1997, the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary shcools 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 1977-98 school year and included the allocation of 51 remedial teacher posts to primary schools with effect from September 1997. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need for remedial tuition. Accordingly, I am not in a position at present to extend remedial services in the primary sector.
Child care assistant posts are allocated by my Department on the basis of priority of need. For the current school year, an additional 18 such posts have been allocated. These posts have been targeted on children attending special schools and special classes, particularly children with severe or profound mental handicap. I am at present reviewing provision across the special needs area, including current responses to remedial needs and the provision of child care assistant supports, to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school to which he refers will be fully considered in the context of any additional resource allocations which may be undertaken.
