Vol. 564 No. 5
173 Mr. S. Power asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the Curragh post-primary school, Curragh, County Kildare, has not been designated disadvantaged and the two primary schools in the area have been so designated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9642/03]
213 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will investigate a submission in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his Department will agree to address the major problems and implications of the report; if he will ensure that the timescale as to resolving the matter is such that the present students will not suffer due to the present lack of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10052/03]
214 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare has no resource teacher given that the school has 100% transfer from two primary schools who have ex-quota resource teachers each for special needs students; the criteria the Department uses in regard to such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10053/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 213 and 214 together.
An annual allocation of teaching posts is made by my Department to each vocational education committee based on nationally applied criteria. These criteria have been notified to school authorities and are also available on my Department's website. These criteria regulate the allocation of posts including remedial/learning support, additional provision for pupils with special needs and for schools which are designated as disadvantaged. Subject to the approved allocation it is a matter for the chief executive officer and the vocational education committee to deploy resources having regard to the priority needs of pupils and schools.
Currently there are over 200 second level schools designated under the disadvantaged areas scheme. There are no plans in my Department to designate further second level schools as disadvantaged. However, I wish to assure the Deputy that the needs of Curragh post-primary school will be considered in the context of any future review of the disadvantaged scheme at second level.
My Department allocates resource teaching posts, special needs assistant posts and additional teaching hours to vocational education committees and other second level school authorities to cater for special needs pupils. Each case is considered on its merits and additional allocations are made on the recommendation of the psychological service. My Department is currently processing a request by the relevant vocational education committee for additional teaching resources in respect of pupils in the school in question.
This year I have introduced a new appeals procedure in regard to teacher allocations for second level schools. If a VEC is of the view that the allocation of teaching posts made for 2003-04 is not in accordance with the criteria, it may appeal to an independent appeals board.
