Vol. 512 No. 1
238 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position on the provision of extra facilities at Scoil Ignáid Rís, Naas, County Kildare; the progress on this project in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25643/99]
My Department's post-primary building unit has agreed in principle to the provision of an extension of 2,397 square meters at Scoil Ignáid Rís, Naas, County Kildare.
239 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he will respond to the need for extra facilities at Confey College, Leixlip, County Kildare, in the short and medium term; the progress on this project in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25644/99]
Architectural planning for the proposed extension to Confey College, Leixlip is proceeding. The matter of inviting tenders for the project will be addressed in the near future.
240 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in the past 12 months in respect of proposals to meet the need for extra facilities at Scoil Dara, Kilcock, County Kildare; the development stages to be proceeded with in relation to this project; the number already progressed; the number of stages still outstanding; the timescale within which it is expected to meet such needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25645/99]
Architectural planning consists of six stages. The original stage 3 developed sketch scheme, submission in respect of the proposed extension to Scoil Dara, Kilcock, County Kildare did not meet Department requirements.
The revised stage 3 documentation is currently being examined in my Department's post-primary building branch and if found satisfactory, the project will be allowed to proceed to stage 4, detailed design of architectural planning.
The proposed accommodation will comprise of eight general classrooms, eight specialist rooms and ancillary area.
241 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the adequacy of facilities at Coláiste Chiarán, Leixlip, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25646/99]
There is no record of an application to the building unit of my Department for extra accommodation or refurbishment of existing accommodation at Coláiste Chiarán.
Should the school's managerial authorities consider that such works are necessary, an application in writing should be made to my Department.
242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the promised extra facilities at Scoil Mhuire, Clane, County Kildare; the degree to which this project has progressed in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25647/99]
The project at Scoil Mhuire, Clane went to construction in September 1999.
243 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which special needs in respect of primary and second level schools in north Kildare have been met in the past 12 months; if he will improve or extend such services in line with requirements in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25648/99]
The information requested by the Deputy is only available in my Department on an overall county basis.
There are nine full-time resource teachers catering for children with special needs in ordinary primary schools in County Kildare. Four of these posts have been sanctioned in the current year. A further 13 primary schools in the county have been allocated part-time resource teacher support to cater for special needs children.
As a result of the recent extension of the remedial teaching service to all primary and post-primary schools with a pupil-teacher ratio of 10:1 or above, a total of 92 primary schools in County Kildare now have access to the remedial teaching service. A total of 50 remedial teachers are deployed in primary schools in the county.
Also, with effect from the beginning of the current school year, all second level schools in the free education scheme have been given ex-quota allocations in respect of remedial needs. These allocations have been notified to the authorities of the schools concerned.
A total of 41 special needs assistants have been allocated to support children with special needs in schools in County Kildare. A total of 19 of these posts have been allocated in the current year.
