Vol. 487 No. 6
327 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teaching posts which will become available in the academic year 1998-99 due to the demographic dividend; and his Department's intention with regard to the reallocation of these posts between remedial and special education. [4634/98]
328 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the number of remedial, resource and special education teachers employed for the academic year 1998-99 by more than the number of posts anticipated to become available as a result of the demographic dividend. [4635/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.
No final decisions have yet been taken on the manner in which the dividend will be distributed or on the precise number of remedial, resource or special education teacher posts which may be allocated for the 1998-99 academic year.
However, I can assure the Deputy that, in line with the Government's commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium, my decisions on resource allocations for the 1998-99 academic year will have particular regard to the areas of special need to which he refers.
