asked the Minister for Education if he will state the position concerning the establishment of remedial classes in primary and post-primary schools.
48.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remedial Education.
47.
asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to ensure a supply of properly trained remedial teachers for primary and post-primary schools.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 47 and 48 together.
There are now 192 remedial teaching classes sanctioned in primary schools. It is anticipated that approximately 70 more will be sanctioned throughout the country for the school year 1973-74.
Special in-service courses to enable remedial teachers to acquire a deeper understanding and more specialised knowledge of their subject have been conducted for some years in Dublin and a similar course is being organised in Cork in the present school year.
In post-primary schools remedial teachers give help in the basic skills to small groups of pupils who are not making normal progress in their school work. It is not usually recommended that remedial education be given in special classes. A course of training in remedial education for post-primary teachers was held in 1971. Two similar courses are being held this year.
Would the Minister accept that a special effort must now be made to have remedial classes available, especially in certain areas?
The Deputy can take it that we are moving as rapidly as possible.