Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Jack Wall

Question:

435 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of remedial teachers to be appointed in the school year 1999-2000 in addition to the current number of staff employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7065/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

There are currently 1,302 remedial teachers at primary level and a further 350 at second level. I recently announced my decision to extend the remedial service to every first and second level school which is currently without the service. This extension of service will be in place for the 1999-2000 school year. An additional 600 teacher posts are being made available from the commencment of the next school year. The priority focus of these posts will be to facilitate the extension of the remedial service at first and second level and to facilitate the extension of the home-school-community liaison service to every first and second level school which has disadvantaged status.

My Department is currently identifying schools which are without a remedial service at present and arranging for the delivery of the service to those schools. In some cases, the small number of pupils involved may require a post be shared with an adjacent school. The precise number of posts required for the extension of the service has not yet been finally determined. However, I am satisfied that the substantial allocation of additional posts to which I have referred will be adequate to meet the need.