Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

143 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received a request from a primary school (details supplied) in County Dublin for the creation of permanent classroom assistants; his views on whether this and other schools are losing classroom assistants due to cuts in community employment schemes; the way in which he will redress this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7304/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department sanctioned a full-time special needs assistant post for the school in question in December 1999. This post was sanctioned to enable the school to cater for a child with special needs attending the school.

My Department's involvement in the allocation of special needs assistant posts to schools is confined to the allocation of such posts as are required to cater for children with special needs. All such allocations are made on the basis of the professionally assessed needs of the children in question. To date, a total of 937 special needs assistants have been allocated to the primary system to cater for children with special needs and the process of allocating additional posts is continuing as special needs are identified.

I am aware that persons have been engaged under community employment schemes to carry out child care and other duties in schools. However, any such appointments are outside of the normal agreed staffing arrangements for schools, including arrangements in relation to children with special needs, operated by my Department and are entirely a matter for the authorities at FÁS.