Phil Hogan
Question:922 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the qualifying number of pupils required for the appointment of a remedial teacher in the context of a sharing arrangement between schools for this post. [2012/98]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
There is no specific qualifying number of pupils at which remedial teacher allocations automatically take place. When available, remedial teacher posts are allocated on the basis of priority of need as assessed by my Department.
Remedial teacher allocations to individual schools are generally made on the basis of an established caseload of 40 pupils who have been identified as having a remedial need.
Where a remedial post is shared between a number of schools, the caseload is reduced by two pupils for each school, additional to the base school, involved in the sharing arrangement. This approach is in line with the recommendation of the special education review committee.
I am at present reviewing provision across the special needs area, including the remedial area, to ensure that all available resources are deployed to maximum effect.