Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

John Gormley

Question:

110 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will meet representatives of St. Brigid's primary school, Haddington Road, Dublin 4, to discuss the provision of a remedial teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3307/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Since September 1999, the remedial teacher service has been extended to all primary schools with a pupil teacher ratio of 10:1 or above. Schools with lower pupil teacher ratios may also seek remedial support from my Department where the level of their particular need warrants such a service.

The special education review committee recommended that the general criteria for establishing remedial need should relate to pupils who have been identified as being below the 10th percentile on standardised tests in basic literacy and numeracy. The committee also recommended that the caseload of a remedial teacher catering for a single school should be 40 pupils. Where the post is shared with one other school, the committee recommended that the caseload be reduced to 38 pupils.

The school to which the Deputy refers currently shares a remedial teacher with another school. The combined enrolment of the two schools is 374 pupils. In these circumstances, the allocation of one remedial teacher for the two schools is in line with the general approach recommended by the special education review committee.

I assure the Deputy that the needs of the school in question will be fully considered in the event of additional resources becoming available to improve existing remedial services. There are no plans at present to meet representatives of the school referred to by the Deputy.