Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Paul McGrath

Question:

403 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if a request for a child care assistant has been received in his Department from a primary school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; the additional resources that will be available to this school to help the subject of this application achieve his potential; his views on whether a resource teacher for two and a half hours per week is adequate to fulfil this aim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22136/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

An application for special needs assistant support has been received in my Department and is currently being examined by my Department's inspectorate. As soon as the inspectorate has reported, my Department will be in touch with the school authorities in relation to this matter.

I understand that my Department sanctioned 2.5 hours resource teaching support per week to cater for the special educational needs of the pupil in question. The level of allocation made in all such cases is based on my Department's inspectorate's assessment of the level of need involved. I understand that my Department has no record of an application for additional resource teacher support but I can assure the Deputy that any such request will be fully considered.

The provision of speech therapy services is the responsibility of the relevant health authority. I have asked my officials to refer the issue raised by the Deputy to the Department of Health and Children for attention. It is my intention to continue to liaise with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, in order to ensure that adequate speech therapy services are made available to school going children who require such support.