Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - School Staffing.

Pat Carey

Question:

607 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will approve the appointment of an ex-quota support teacher to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11529/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the support teacher project in operation in certain schools where there are significant numbers of pupils with disruptive, disturbed or withdrawn behaviour. A total of 42 support teachers serve in the 48 selected schools. It is planned to have the project evaluated in 2002. Any extension of the support teacher project to additional schools will be addressed in the context of that evaluation.

The national educational psychological service is available to assist schools in the management of pupils with behavioural difficulties. My Department also has a number of programmes in place to support pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in education. The programmes include the early start pre-school project, the home-school-community liaison scheme, disadvantaged areas scheme and the new programme which I launched in January to tackle educational disadvantage in primary schools.

The school in question has ex-quota teaching supports under a number of these programmes including early start, home-school-community liaison and the disadvantaged areas scheme. In addition, the school has two remedial posts and two shared special teachers. This school is also included in the urban dimension of the new programme and will be supported to maintain a maximum class size of 20:1 in junior classes and 29:1 in senior classes over the next three years. The school will also receive an additional grant support of £3,103 in the current school year towards the provision of suitable in-school and out of school supports for the children that will be targeted under the programme.