Róisín Shortall
Question:304 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the role of the remedial teachers at second level; the training which is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19108/00]
Written Answers. - Remedial Teaching Service.
The learning support teacher – remedial teacher – at second level constitutes an extra teaching resource for a school to strengthen its team effort in making provision for students having learning difficulties. The learning support teacher works directly with students who have difficulties acquiring basic skills in literacy and-or numeracy or who have learning difficulties of a more general nature. The support teacher supplements the teaching normally provided by the subject teacher, acts as a resource person for other teaching staff, liaises with parents and, when required, with helping agencies.
Training courses for support teachers at second level are provided in: Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin; National University of Ireland, Cork; National University of Ireland, Galway; National University of Ireland, Dublin; Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick; and St. Angela's College of Education, Sligo.
The courses provided in the above institutions are for persons who are already qualified as teachers and each course lasts for an academic year.
In addition, many shorter in-career development courses for learning support teachers are supported by my Department. These are provided mainly through the network of education centres, and also by teachers' organisations.
Michael Creed
Question:305 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will improve the level of remedial service to a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [19109/00]
In September 1999 the remedial teaching service was extended to all primary schools with a pupil-teacher ratio of 10:1 or above. Schools with lower pupil-teacher ratios were advised that they could seek remedial support where they could demonstrate a need for such a service.
All available posts were utilised in the current school year to ensure that no primary school in the country should be without a remedial teaching service.
However, I can assure the Deputy that the remedial needs of the pupils in the school in question will be fully considered in the event of additional resources becoming available to improve existing remedial services.