Vol. 497 No. 6
78 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to provide inservice training for teachers at first and second levels in special needs education, including special needs arising from socio-economic or environmental factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25835/98]
The provision of in-career development courses for teachers in the area of special needs is an issue which receives a high priority in my Department. It is my intention to ensure such provision is both strengthened and expanded in the light of my recent major initiative concerning the automatic supports for children with disabilities.
As part of the strengthening of services, my Department has recently appointed a co-ordinator to develop in-service programmes for teachers working as resource teachers in post-primary schools.
So far as special needs emanate from socio-economic and environmental factors, my Department has introduced a range of curricular and whole school interventions. Such interventions include: Early Start, Breaking the Cycle, traveller education, home-school-community liaison, junior certificate schools programme and Youthreach among others. Comprehensive inservice programmes and teacher supports are associated with each scheme and curricular innovation.
