I am glad to have the opportunity to raise this extremely important matter for the school concerned. Not only does it deserve the services of a full-time remedial teacher it should be designated as disadvantaged. The provision of a home-school liaision teacher should also be considered. A number of schools in the area have been granted full-time remedial teachers and disadvantaged status, and I do not begrudge them that because they are in areas of need, but similar needs exist in the case of Scoil Lorcáin boys' national school. I cannot understand why this school still has only a part-time remedial teacher. That teacher was placed in 1980, before two local authority housing estates comprising about 300 houses were built in the area.
I first became involved in this matter when I was approached on 19 September 1990. At that time 36 pupils received tuition from the part-time remedial teacher. A further 33 pupils needed assistance but that was not possible, and the position has deteriorated since then. In 1990, 78 per cent of pupils in the school came from an unemployment background. That figure rose to 117 per cent in 1994. The number of pupils from unemployed and single parent families was 49 per cent in 1990, 50 per cent in 1991, 55 per cent in 1993 and 63 per cent in 1994. Almost two out of every three students in the school come from such a background. In addition those from families with five or more children comprise 17 per cent of the total number, 65 per cent of whom come from local authority houses. Two out of every three pupils come from local authority houses. I do not have the 1980 figures of pupils from those categories, but they were significantly lower than at present. Considering that a part-time remedial teacher was appointed in 1980 when the need was not nearly as great as it is now, it defies logic that a full time post cannot be sanctioned. Will the Minister ensure that in the appointment of remedial teachers, Scoil Lorcain should at the very least get the services of a full time remedial teacher?
I have further information on the school and background of some of the children but I am not at liberty to disclose it in public. However, if the Minister wishes I will give it to him privately. When teachers in this school hear announcements about other schools in Waterford city they believe they are being treated unfairly in that they cannot provide the same opportunities for their students. Accordingly, there is a case for those services to be made available to this school.