Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Remedial Teaching Service.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

482 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide a remedial teacher for mathematics for Archbishop McQuaid senior national school, Loughlinstown, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23031/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

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 a remedial service where they could demonstrate a need for such a service.

My Department allocated an additional 148 full-time remedial teacher posts and 27 part-time posts to facilitate the extension of the service to all primary schools. A further 15 remedial teacher posts were subsequently allocated to meet the remedial needs of a number of very large schools which had only one post. All available posts have been utilised to ensure that no primary school in the country is without a remedial service.

The school to which the Deputy refers already has the services of a full-time remedial teacher. However, I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school will be fully considered in the event of additional resources becoming available to improve existing remedial services.