Vol. 563 No. 5
176 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools in County Kerry with full or part-time resource teachers; the number of primary and secondary schools in County Kerry without full-time or part-time resource teachers; the schools in each of these categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8447/03]
177 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and secondary schools in County Kerry with full or part-time remedial teachers; the number of primary and secondary schools in County Kerry without full or part-time remedial teachers; the schools in each of these categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8448/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
My Department has allocated resource teaching support to 127 primary schools in County Kerry. Some 114 of these schools have sanction for at least one resource teacher on a full-time or shared basis. The remaining 13 schools have resource teacher provision in the form of part-time hours. Some 17 primary schools in the county do not have resource teacher support. This support is allocated to assist schools in providing an education which meets the needs of children assessed as having disabilities. My Department is continuing to allocate additional resource teacher support on an ongoing basis in response to assessed needs.
In September 1999, the learning support-remedial teacher service was extended to all primary schools with a pupil teacher ratio of 10:1 or above. Schools with lower pupil teacher ratios were advised that they could seek a learning support service where they could demonstrate a need for such a service. There are currently 50 learning support posts in primary schools in County Kerry.
My Department has allocated additional teaching resources to cater for students with special needs to 26 of the 27 post primary schools in County Kerry. Of these, 14 schools have one or more full resource teaching posts and 12 schools have part-time provision.
178 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of secondary schools in County Kerry with full time career guidance teachers; the number without full time career guidance teachers; the schools in each of these categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8449/03]
All second level schools in County Kerry have an allocation in respect of career guidance. The following schools in County Kerry have an allocation of one full post or more in respect of guidance: Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee; Coláiste Bhreannain, Killarney; the Intermediate School, Kilorglin; Presentation Secondary School, Listowel; CBS Secondary School, Tralee; Presentation Secondary School, Tralee; Coláiste na Sceilge, Cahirciveen; Causeway Comprehensive School, Tralee; and Tarbert Comprehensive School, Listowel.
The following schools in County Kerry have an allocation ranging from 0.36 to 0.90 of a post in respect of guidance: St. Joseph's Secondary School, Ballybunion; Meán Scoil na mBraithre Críostaí, Daingean Uí Chuís; Meánscoil na Toirbhirte, Daingean Uí Chuís; St. Brigid's Secondary School, Killarney; Presentation Secondary School, Milltown, Killarney; Tralee Community College; Castleisland Community College; Killarney Community College; Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore; Pobal Scoil Inbhear Sceine; Meanscoil Naomh Ioseph, Castleisland; St. Michael's College, Listowel; Kilorglin Community College; Meánscoil Phádraig Naofa, Castleisland; Meanscoil An Leith Triuigh, Breanann, Trá Lí; Coláiste Íde, Baile an Ghoilín, Daingean Uí Chuís; Gaelcholoaiste Chiarraí, Tobar Mhaigh Dor, Trá Lí; and Listowel Community College.
My Department makes a specific ex-quota allocation of teaching posts in respect of guidance to all second level schools. The allocation ranges from 0.36 of a post – eight hours per week – in schools in the free education scheme with an enrolment of less than 200 pupils to two posts in the case of schools with an enrolment of 1,000 pupils or more. In the case of certain fee paying schools, which are not in the free education scheme, 0.5 of a post is allocated in respect of these schools in the 350-499 enrolment category and a full post is allocated in the case of schools with 500 or more pupils.
