Vol. 502 No. 1
193 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a third assistant can be retained as a resource teacher by Scoil Naomh Pádraig, Killawalla, Westport, County Mayo, in view of the fact this school requires a special class within their school programme developed for children with learning difficulties and special needs and the school already has a classroom available for this facility. [7366/99]
I understand that Scoil Naomh Pádraig already has the support of a resource teacher which it shares with another school.
While the school has applied to my Department for the appointment of a full-time resource teacher, I understand that the information supplied by the school to date would not warrant such a full-time appointment.
However, my Department has invited the school to provide particulars of any children with disabilities attending the school whose needs are not capable of being met under current arrangements. The needs of the school will be reviewed in the light of any such information.
194 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if arrangements are in place to ensure that the promise made to provide every national school with access to a remedial teacher by the start of the next academic year will be honoured; if three schools in County Wexford (details supplied) will be provided with a remedial teacher by that time; and, if so, the arrangements, if any, which have been put in place. [7367/99]
I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention that every primary school in the country will have access to a remedial teacher service with effect from September next. The necessary arrangements are currently being made in my Department.
The three schools in County Wexford to which the Deputy refers will be included in this expansion of the remedial service. The precise arrangements for the delivery of the service will be notified to the schools in question as soon as possible.
195 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science further to his public statements of 5 November 1998 and 3 December 1998, the entitlement to additional resources and funding (details supplied) for St. Michael's House national school, Ballymun Road, Dublin 9. [7368/99]
I have requested my Department's inspectorate to review the staffing and equipment needs of the school in question, having regard to the special needs of the pupils involved. The question of further staffing or equipment allocations to the school will be considered in the light of the inspectorate's report. Pending receipt of that report, my Department has sanctioned the appointment of an additional special needs assistant to cater for the needs of a particular pupil enrolled in the school.
I recently announced a special allocation of £3.4 million to facilitate the provision of escorts on all special school transport services for children with disabilities. This funding will also allow for the provision of harnesses where required on such services. My Department is currently making arrangements to put these supports in place. I expect that funding allocations to the schools involved, including St. Michael's House, will commence shortly.
I am aware that the school has also sought inclusion in the home-school-community liaison scheme. My priority at present is to utilise available resources to extend the home-school-community liaison service to all schools which have been designated disadvantaged.
My Department has no record of having received an application for building works at the school. However, should an application be received, it will be considered.
