Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Liam Aylward

Question:

386 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 17 February 2000, the progress, if any, made with regard to a replacement special needs teacher being appointed to assist a child (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [8942/00]

Minister for Education and Science

(Dr. Woods): I can confirm to the Deputy that a visiting teacher from an adjoining area visited the child in question on 29 February 2000 and also met with the child's mother. My Department has arranged that the visiting teacher will liaise with the child's class teacher and the remedial teacher to advise them on how best to cater for the special needs of the child in question.

I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has now sanctioned a resource teaching post for the school in question. The pupil referred to by the Deputy will now receive an in-school support service from the resource teacher.

The temporary visiting teacher post mentioned in my reply of 17 February 2000 was re-advertised in the national papers on Sunday, 6 February 2000. Unfortunately, no applications have been received to date from candidates interested in this post. However, efforts to fill the post will continue.