Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Tony Gregory

Question:

233 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 324 of 23 May 2000, the resource teacher-special needs assistant, as outlined, was made available to the school; is so, if they are now in place; if the school in question was entitled to a teaching post under the developing school status during the past year; and if any such post was allocated. [16260/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods): The resource teaching and special needs assistant support mentioned in the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers were allocated to the school in question in June 2000. The resource teaching service for the school in question was re-organised in October 2000 under an arrangement which involved the allocation of a full-time resource teacher post on a shared basis between the school in question and another school in the area. Where resource teacher or special needs assistant supports are allocated, it is a matter for the schools concerned to fill such posts.

In the case in question, the schools involved have encountered difficulty in recruiting suitable staff to provide the services in question. I have asked my Department's inspectorate to investigate the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers with a view to ensuring that any necessary support services are put in place as speedily as possible. The school in question was not entitled to a teaching post under the developing school status during the past year.