Vol. 541 No. 4
483 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal for a resource teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22924/01]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that resource teaching support has recently been sanctioned by my Department to cater for the special educational needs of the pupil in question. The school authorities have been notified of this allocation.
484 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to appoint a third teacher in Carn national school, Gurteen, County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22925/01]
The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule, which is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners.
The enrolment at the school in question was 42 pupils on 30 September 1999 and remained unchanged as at 30 September 2000. This enrolment entitles the school to a staffing of a principal and one mainstream class teacher for the 2001-02 school year.
In addition, the school has a learning support teacher, who is based in the school, and a shared resource teacher. The only deviation from the agreed schedule to which I referred is in the case of schools that have experienced a large increase in enrolments. Unfortunately, at this time, the school's increased enrolment does not meet the defined criteria and it is therefore not possible to sanction the appointment of a third mainstream teaching post for the school year 2001-02.
485 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of permanent special needs assistants who will be appointed nationwide; the number of appointments to be made in the western region and in particular for County Sligo and County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22926/01]
It is not possible to determine the precise number of special needs assistants which may ultimately be appointed nationwide or in the specific areas mentioned by the Deputy. All children with special needs within the primary sector 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 need involved. All such allocations are made on the basis of the professionally assessed needs of each individual child.
Already, as a result of the Government's decision, the number of full or part-time special needs assistants supporting children with special needs in primary schools has been increased from less than 300 to approximately 2,500. This includes a total of 43 special needs assistants in County Sligo and 12 in County Leitrim. Additional special needs assistant support will continue to be allocated as long as there are special needs which require such a response.
My Department allocates special needs assistant posts to ordinary second level schools to cater for the needs of special needs pupils. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authorities. Each case is considered on its merits and determined on the advice of the psychological service.
In the current school year, special needs assistant posts have been allocated to two second level schools in County Sligo and to two in County Leitrim. The posts are temporary in nature. However, they will continue to be allocated by my Department as long as the need for the posts exists.
