Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Feb 2001

Vol. 529 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

148 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received an application from a school (details supplied) in County Meath for a full ex-quota remedial teacher allocation; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are more than 300 pupils in this school and they only have a 0.5 ex-quota remedial teacher allocation; if he will take action to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2806/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The ex-quota allocation to individual second level schools in respect of remedial education for a particular school year is determined by the enrolment in the school at the end of the preceding September.

All schools in the free education scheme have an entitlement to an ex-quota allocation in respect of remedial education since the beginning of the 1999-2000 school year. Schools with enrolments of 600 or more pupils are allocated a full post; schools with enrolments below 600 pupils are allocated 0.5 of a post.

The enrolment in the school to which the Deputy refers warrants an ex-quota allocation of 0.5 of a post in respect of remedial education in the current school year and this allocation has been included in the overall teacher allocation which has been notified to the school authorities.

The question of increasing the ex-quota allocation in respect of remedial education will be considered in the context of available resources and having regard to the report of the expert group on teacher allocations which is expected to be available in the near future.