Tom Enright
Question:77 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to reduce the cluster size for remedial teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25409/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
The Deputy will be aware that I have introduced a major expansion of the remedial teaching service to first and second level schools. My priority was to ensure that all schools, who were without a remedial teaching service, would have access to one with effect from September 1999. This has resulted in a remedial teacher service now being available to all schools with a pupil teacher ratio of 10:1 or above. Schools with a pupil teacher ratio of below 10:1 are free to make a case for such support to my Department.
The Deputy will appreciate that this represents a huge on-going investment in remedial services. The caseloads assigned to the newly appointed remedial teachers who are operating on a shared basis are in line with the recommendations of the special education review committee.
I am aware that there may be individual instances within the overall service where adjustments to caseloads may be required. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of such remedial clusters will be fully considered in the event of additional resources becoming available to improve existing services.