Vol. 487 No. 1
136 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if favourable consideration will be given to the provision of a remedial teacher at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the fact that the school presently has an enrolment of 222 which is projected to rise to over 250 pupils in the new school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3501/98]
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 arrangements were based on the allocation of surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year. A total of 54 remedial teacher posts have been allocated to primary schools with effect from September 1997. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need for access to a remedial teaching service. I am currently reviewing provision across the special needs area, including the remedial teacher area, to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible. I assure the Deputy that the needs of the school to which he refers will be fully considered in the context of any additional remedial teacher allocations which may be undertaken.
