Vol. 491 No. 3
509 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is a need to sanction an ex-quota remedial teacher to St. Mary's High School, Presentation Convent, Midleton, County Cork; if he will sanction this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12016/98]
Ex-quota remedial posts are allocated to second level schools on the basis of priority of need and having regard to existing provision within schools and the recommendations of my Department's psychological service.
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate there are many competing demands for increased funding in all sectors of education. These demands are considered within the overall budgetary constraints.
I can assure the Deputy that the position of St. Mary's High School will be kept under review and will be considered when next it is possible to allocate additional ex-quota remedial posts.
510 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria used by his Department when sanctioning the appointment of ex-quota remedial teachers; the number of these posts his Department has sanctioned since he has taken up office; the schools involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12017/98]
Remedial teacher posts are allocated on the basis of priority of need within the limit of available resources. My Department considers that pupils in need of remedial teaching are those who function at or below the tenth percentile on standardised, norm-referenced attainment tests in literacy, mathematics or both.
When available, remedial teacher posts are usually allocated on the basis that there is a caseload of 40 pupils requiring remedial teaching. However, where the post is shared among a cluster of schools, the number of pupils involved will be reduced.
Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Science, my Department has allocated three remedial teacher posts to the following schools:
|
County |
Roll No. |
Name of School |
|
Limerick |
17155 |
Athlacca NS |
|
Cork |
19714 |
St. Mary's on the Hill (two Posts) |
511 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria used by his Department when sanctioning the appointment of ex-quota career guidance counsellors to second level schools; the number of these posts sanctioned since he has taken up office; the schools involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12018/98]
All schools in the free education system have an ex-quota allocation in respect of guidance. The allocation to individual schools for a particular school year is determined by the enrolment at the end of the preceding September on the following basis:
|
Enrolment |
Number of Ex-quota Guidance Posts |
|
1000+ |
2.0 |
|
800-999 |
1.5 |
|
500-799 |
1.0 |
|
250-499 |
0.5 |
|
200-249 |
0.4 |
|
150-199 |
0.3 |
|
100-149 |
0.2 |
|
0.1 |
512 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a remedial teacher to Scoil An Spiraid Naoimh, Laytown, County Meath, in view of the fact that a child attending the school has been assessed as having learning disabilities (details supplied) and is receiving no remedial attention; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the child has been unable to gain entry to a special school based locally; if he is unable to appoint a remedial teacher, the arrangements, if any, he will put in place for this child to gain a proper education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11779/98]
529 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide a resources teacher for Laytown national school, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 529 together.
I am aware of the case to which Deputy Bruton refers. The school in question has applied to my Department for the appointment of a resource teacher to assist a number of pupils with special needs, including the child mentioned by Deputy Bruton.
My capacity to allocate additional remedial or resource teacher posts in any given year is dependent on resource availability and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas. I have to determine priorities and allocate available resources to best effect.
I am currently reviewing provision across the special needs area, including the resource and remedial area, to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible.
I have already indicated my intention that all national schools will be given access to a remedial resource over the next two years. I can assure the Deputies that the needs of the school to which they refer will be considered in the context of any additional remedial or resource teacher allocations which may be undertaken for the forthcoming school year.
