Vol. 504 No. 3
93 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers assigned on an ex-quota basis to help resource the teaching of children of refugees; the basis on which these teachers are being allocated; the number of children reached by the service; the distinction, if any, made between children of programme refugees and children of refugees whose status is not established; and if he will remove any discrimination on this basis. [11794/99]
At primary school level 14 teachers have been employed recently to assist in the provision of education for children from refugee and other families of non-national persons at present in this State. These teachers have been deployed to primary schools on the basis of the need identified by school principals for additional tuition for the children concerned in the area of language particularly. It is estimated that approximately 377 non-national children having marked language tuition needs, in 21 primary schools, benefit from this scheme. Children from families whose status has not been established yet are provided for in this scheme as are children who are programme refugees.
At post-primary level children from refugee and other non-national families at present in the State, and needing additional tuition support, are provided for, through the sanction of additional teaching hours to individual schools or VEC schemes where such is required and application made to my Department. Figures in relation to this are not immediately available. However I am arranging to have these compiled and provided to the Deputy shortly.
