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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

619 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of remedial teachers available at primary and second level in the various schools throughout north County Kildare; the number of extra posts required to meet current and future demands; the extent to which it is proposed to meet these requirements in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17321/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

620 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs teachers available at primary and second level in north County Kildare; the number required to meet current and ongoing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17322/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together.

The remedial teacher service was extended to all first and second level schools at the commencement of the 1999-2000 school year. There are 55 remedial teaching posts in primary schools and 13.5 remedial teaching posts in post-primary schools in County Kildare. There are no current proposals to expand the remedial teacher service. In the event of additional remedial teacher posts becoming available for allocation, the needs of schools in County Kildare will be fully considered.
There is currently the equivalent of 68 resource teacher posts in primary schools and ten resource teacher posts in post-primary schools in County Kildare.
Arising from a Government decision in October 1998, all children with special needs in primary schools, including children in County Kildare, now have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs. The response in question may take the form of resource teacher support or special needs assistant support, or both, depending on the particular needs involved. As a result of this development, the number of resource teachers supporting children with special needs in primary schools has been increased from 104 to more than 950. The number of special needs assistants has been increased from less than 300 to more than 2,000 over the same period. My Department is continuing to allocate such resources on an ongoing basis in response to assessed need and will respond to any such needs arising in County Kildare.
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