Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Jack Wall

Question:

577 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school with a part-time resource teacher has not the same rights as a school with a full-time resource teacher in relation to grants for charts, books and other equipment; if this discrimination of pupils will be rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21257/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Under present arrangements my Department allocates grants to resource teachers in primary schools for the purchase of materials and equipment. The rate applicable is £400 in the year the post is allocated and £200 per annum thereafter. The allocation of resource teachers to primary schools on a part-time basis has arisen as a result of my initiative in the last school year, whereby pupils with special needs in primary schools now have an automatic entitlement to support.

My Department is currently giving consideration to the question of equipment grants to schools with the service of a part-time teacher for special needs pupils. This matter will be considered in the context of available resources the number of such part-time posts allocated and the nature and manner of appropriate provision for the pupils.