Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Ivor Callely

Question:

681 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of remedial teachers who have been appointed in the past five years; the comparative figures for the previous five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8340/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Table 1 which follows shows the number of remedial posts sanctioned at primary level in the years 1997 to 2001. Table 2 shows the numbers from 1992 to 1996.

Table 1

Year	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	Total1997-2001
Remedial Posts Sanctioned	54	60	161	17	5	297
Total Posts	1,242	1,302	1,463	1,480	1,485	–

Table 2

Year	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	Total1992-1996
Remedial Posts Sanctioned	0	86	100	55	0	241
Total Posts	947	1,033	1,133	1,188	1,188	–

Prior to 1994 there were 252 ex-quota remedial teaching posts allocated to second level schools. An additional 25 posts were allocated in 1994-95 and a further 73 were allocated in 1995-96, bringing the total to 350. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need and having regard to the existing provision in schools. Regard was also taken of the recommendations of the Department's psychological services in allocating such posts.

With effect from the 1999-2000 school year all second level schools in the free education scheme have an automatic entitlement to an ex-quota allocation in respect of remedial teaching. The allocation is determined by the enrolment in the school. Schools with an enrolment of 600 or more are allocated a full post while schools with enrolments below 600 are allocated 0.5 of a post. Individual schools which had been allocated an ex-quota remedial post by my Department prior to 1999 retained that entitlement even if the enrolment in the school was below 600. The total allocation to second level schools in respect of remedial education in the current school year is of the order of 560 whole-time teacher equivalents. Further improvements in remedial teacher allocations will be made in the light of available resources.