Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 150 No. 13

Adjournment Matters. - Newcastlewest (Limerick) Remedial Teacher Appointment.

Ms Kelly

Scoil Mhuire is Íde serves Newcastlewest and surrounding district for an approximate seven mile radius. At present in excess of 700 students, boys and girls, attend the school, but there is no remedial teacher. The principal is concerned that, because of this, at least ten students who are studying for the leaving certificate examinations are underachieving. He cited to me an example of one student, not yet studying for these examinations, who has difficulties counting his money and an inability with figures, although he is good at English and languages.

The school and school management is trying to overcome this problem by asking one of the part-time teachers to take some of the students for extra time during the day and at the close of school business. However, although doing her best, she is not a properly qualified remedial teacher.

Another vocational school in the town provides the services of a remedial teacher. Children from primary schools in the catchment area who realise they have learning difficulties are almost forced to go to the vocational school, thus limiting their choices. Furthermore, there is no remedial teacher to service the primary schools within the catchment area of Scoil Mhuire is Íde. This means that some pupils fail to avail of a remedial service not only at primary level but also at secondary level.

An assumption is made that students requiring the services of remedial teachers are underachievers or are not as well gifted academically as others. However, I know of one student who obtained remedial attention when he was young and subsequently obtained a very good leaving certificate. He is now aiming for a silver medal in his university studies.

It cannot be said, therefore, that those requiring remedial help are less likely to achieve academically and it is erroneous to suggest that children would not benefit from the services of a remedial teacher in a school such as Scoil Mhuire is Íde, which has a more academic kind of teaching. I ask the Minister of State to allow the school appoint a remedial teacher in the near future.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. Allen)

The education of pupils with difficulties in literacy or who are underachieving is a matter in the first instance for the ordinary class teachers. Each teacher would be expected to adapt his or her teaching approach and the material which he or she presents to pupils to cater for the needs, abilities and aptitudes of the pupils. The majority of pupils with remedial needs would therefore be helped within the scope of the normal teaching service. However, it is acknowledged that remedial teachers constitute the main additional resource for addressing the problem of underachievement in schools.

Substantial additional resources have been allocated in this area in recent years. In 1994 an additional 25 ex-quota remedial posts were allocated to second level schools. A further 73 posts were allocated in 1995, bringing the total number of ex-quota posts at second level to 350. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need and having regard to existing provision. Regard was also had to the recommendations of my Department's psychological service. Given the limited number of posts available, the Minister for Education was not in a position to allocate a post to Scoil Mhuire is Íde.

In addition to the provision which has been made in the remedial area, additional resource posts have been allocated to cater for the needs of special needs pupils attending second level schools. In 1995, 55 resource posts were allocated to second level schools. Schools were invited to apply for the posts. A specially designed application form was used for this purpose. The posts were allocated on the basis of the information contained in those forms and more than 130 such posts have been allocated to second level schools in the current school year.

In addition to the allocation of remedial posts to schools, steps have been taken since 1994 to increase significantly the number of teachers being trained as remedial teachers. In the 1997-98 school year training in remedial education will be provided in the following six centres: Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines; Department of Education, University College, Cork; Department of Education, University College, Galway; Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick; St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra and St. Angela's College of Education, Sligo. All these courses are funded by the Department of Education with support from the European Social Fund. The appropriate circular announcing the programme of training for 1997-8 was issued to all schools recently. The content of the courses will include theoretical and practical inputs on all aspects of provision for remedial education.

A range of new programmes has been introduced at second level in the past number of years to cater for the needs of pupils with varying interests, abilities and aptitudes. These include the junior certificate elementary programme, the transition year programme, the restructured leaving certificate vocational programme and the leaving certificate applied. Additional resources have been provided to schools in respect of these programmes.

I assure the House that the Minister for Education is fully committed to improving the provision in the education area and, in particular, for children with special needs. Unfortunately, the resources available to the Minister are not unlimited and priorities must be established. The Minister is not in a position at present to allocate additional remedial posts to second level schools. However, the position of Scoil Mhuire agus Íde, Newcastlewest, will receive every consideration when the Minister is in a position to further extend the remedial service.

Ms Kelly

I thank the Minister of State for his helpful reply.

The Seanad adjourned at 7.35 p.m. until 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 March 1997.