Vol. 516 No. 2
22 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the special schools serving the Dublin 3, 5 and 9 catchment areas; the additional staffing or accommodation resources under consideration for these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7140/00]
The special schools in the areas referred to by the Deputy are:
Dublin 3
Central Remedial Clinic, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf (Roll No. 18317);
Dublin 5
St. Michael's House, Dublin Road, Raheny (Roll No. 19373);
Dublin 9
Scoil Chiarain, St. Canices Road, Glasnevin (Roll No. 19325);
St. Joseph's School for Visually Impaired Boys, Drumcondra (Roll No. 16583) and St. Paul's Hospital, Beaumont (Roll No. 19316).
The staffing of the schools referred to by the Deputy is determined by the enrolment in the schools and the pupil-teacher ratio for the category of pupil attending the school. Since September 1999, the pupil-teacher ratio for all special needs categories has been reduced to the level recommended in the report of the special education review committee.
My Department also provides funding for the employment of special needs assistants in special and mainstream schools. It is my intention in the current year to fully implement the special needs assistant-pupil ratios recommended in the report of the special education review committee. As a result, additional special needs assistant posts may be allocated to the school in question. However, I am unable to state the precise number of such posts until my officials have completed their examination of the staffing situation in all schools.
In regard to accommodation needs my Department has received applications from the Central Remedial Clinic, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf; St. Michael's House, Dublin Road, Raheny; Scoil Chiarain, St. Canices Road, Glasnevin and St. Joseph's School for Visually Impaired Boys, Drumcondra for grant aid towards various improvement works and facilities.
