Liz McManus
Question:242 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a resource teacher for Stratford-on-Slaney national school in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13066/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
I am aware that the school in question has applied to my Department for the appointment of a resource teacher.
I recently announced a major new initiative in the special education area under which all children within the primary system who have been 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-time 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.
The case put forward by Stratford-on-Slaney national school in support of its application for a resource teacher posts is being examined by my Department's inspectorate. A response will issue to the school as soon as this examination has been completed.