Vol. 504 No. 7
367 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if Raheen national school, Clonroche, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, will have its application for a resource teacher appointment approved in view of the special circumstances relating to the school. [12884/99]
I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers.
I recently announced a major new initiative in the special education area under which all children assessed as having special needs arising from a disability will be entitled to an automatic response to those needs.
The level and nature of the response in each case will depend on the assessed needs of the child or group of children involved. The response may take the form of full or part-time resource teacher support or child care support, or both, depending on the number of children involved and the nature of their needs.
My Department's inspectorate is currently reviewing the needs of the school in question with a view to determining what special supports may be required. A decision on the school's application will be made as soon as the inspectorate have reported.
