I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I believe the Minister will appoint remedial teachers in the next few weeks. Ninety per cent of national schoolchildren have access to a remedial teacher while 76 per cent have the services of one. Yet 32 schools in County Mayo have no access to a remedial teacher.
St. Colmcille national school, the Quay, Westport, No. 13145a, has been looking for a remedial teacher for many years. Westport is one of the fastest growing towns in the west, if not in the whole country. A large number of children attend that school, some of whom come from disadvantaged areas. That school has been looking for a remedial teacher for the past three years.
We all know that if children who have difficulty with learning, reading or writing are not looked after at national school, they are disadvantaged in secondary school from the outset. They never seem to be able to pick up what they have lost at national school. Sometimes one would wonder who is being well looked after by the Celtic tiger. Certainly it is not the people who are disadvantaged.
I call on the Minister to appoint a number of remedial teachers to the 32 schools in the county which have no remedial teachers and no access to remedial teachers. If the Minister could appoint one remedial teacher for Muirisc national school, No. 16832l, St. Colmcille national school and maybe Drummin national school, No. 17039v, at least it would be a start. I would prefer to see three teachers appointed for those schools, but I hope something will be done for them this year.
Keenaghbeg national school, No. 14923e, is another school in a disadvantaged area which has been ravaged by emigration and which finds it difficult to attract pupils. If schools do not have remedial services, parents will not send their children there. That causes a problem for rural schools because if people have a car and a little money, they will send their children to another school rather than send them to the nearest school.
I ask the Minister to make sure County Mayo gets its fair share of remedial teachers, something which did not happen in the past. The fact that the 32 schools in County Mayo do not have a remedial service is a disgrace and I am sorry the Minister is not present to hear me say so.
The last Government appointed 53 remedial teachers in the last school year, yet there are 32 of these schools in County Mayo. The Minister should look after the people who are disadvantaged. No county is more disadvantaged than County Mayo. I mentioned some of the schools but there are many more. I could continue speaking for ten minutes about the schools which need a remedial service. In addition to those I mentioned already, Killala national school and Rathbane national school are among those in need of a remedial service. I hope that when the Minister appoints remedial teachers in the next three weeks he will not forget County Mayo, but if he does I will be back here raising the matter on the Adjournment and I will not be as quiet as I am tonight.