Austin Deasy
Ceist:26 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education if she will grant approval for the provision of a remedial teacher on a shared basis to three schools (details supplied) in County Waterford. [16148/95]
Written Answers. - Remedial Teacher Post.
Rory O'Hanlon
Ceist:137 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Education when remedial teachers will be appointed to schools in the Corduff, Raferagh, Tunnyduff, East Knockbride and Shercock areas of County Cavan. [16383/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 137 together.
I am not in a position at present to make remedial teacher posts available to the schools mentioned by the Deputies.
Earlier this year, I announced the allocation of an additional 55 remedial teachers to primary schools. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need following recommendations from my Department's primary inspectorate.
This allocation brought the total number of remedial teachers now in place in the primary sector to 1,188. Unfortunately, the schools mentioned by the Deputies were not successful on this occasion.
I am keeping the question of further appointments in this area under regular review as resources become available. I can assure the Deputies that the needs of the schools in question will be taken fully into account as part of this process. At this stage, 87 per cent of the pupils in our primary schools have the possibility of access to a remedial teacher. This is a big improvement on the position when I took office in 1993 when 77 per cent of pupils had the possibility of such access. I regret that it is not possible to meet the needs of all pupils for remedial teaching but, unfortunately, I do not have unlimited resources.