Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Remedial Teacher Service.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

414 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he has taken to review the need for remedial teachers in County Offaly in both urban and rural settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18373/98]

Willie Penrose

Question:

434 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure that all pupils at primary level have access to a remedial service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18557/98]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

438 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide a remedial teacher, shared-post, for schools (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that they are the only schools in the Killarney area without the services of a remedial teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18562/98]

John Bruton

Question:

464 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an excess of 1,300 students in County Meath are without any remedial services; the plans, if any, he has to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18764/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 414, 434, 438 and 464 together.

My capacity to allocate additional remedial teacher posts in any given year is dependent on resource availability and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas. I recently allocated 60 remedial teacher posts to national schools with effect from September 1998. There are now 1,302 remedial teacher posts in place in national schools.

I will continue to review needs in this area. In the event of additional remedial teacher posts becoming available for allocation, I can assure the Deputies that the needs of the areas to which they refer will be fully considered.