asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the severely disadvantaged nature of the area served by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this school has no remedial teacher whatsoever even though at least 40 per cent of the pupils are estimated to be in need of remedial help; and that in the junior school from which the pupils of this school come there is a remedial teacher; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that a minimum two or three remedial teachers would be necessary for this school; if, in these very exceptional circumstances, she will give the go-ahead for the appointment of that number of remedial teachers as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dublin 22 Severely Disadvantaged Area.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 109 together.
St. Bernadette's senior national school, Quarryvale, Clondalkin was selected to participate in a programme of special educational measures for disadvantaged areas. The scheme provides for special grants for disadvantaged areas. These grants were paid to the school authorities in December 1987.
An application for a remedial teaching post was made in May 1985. Available posts are allocated in accordance with an assessment of priorities. The number of remedial posts to be sanctioned in any school year would depend on the financial resources available to the Department.
The application in question has not to date been placed sufficiently high in order of priority to warrant the allocation of a post. No promise was made by the Department regarding the allocation of such post.
It will, however, be reconsidered in conjunction with those applications on hand in the light of the availability of such posts in the future.