Written Answers. - Resource Teachers.
Mary Wallace
Ceist:
145
Miss M. Wallace
asked the
Minister for Education
the schools in County Meath that have applied to her Department for a resource teacher; the number of children in each of these schools; when each application was made; the efforts, if any, made by her Department to consider amalgamating some of these applications for shared resource teachers; whether these schools were considered for shared resource teachers; the number of teachers that would be required to meet the applications that have been submitted; the basis on which resource teachers would be shared; the efforts. if any, her Department is currently making to meet these urgent resource teacher needs in 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14616/96]
Mary Wallace
Ceist:
153
Miss M. Wallace
asked the
Minister for Education
the current position regarding an application from Rathbeggan national school, Rathbeggan, County Meath for a resource teacher; when this school made its application for such a teacher; the consideration, if any, that has been given to this application to date within her Department; whether she has considered this application in conjunction with other applications from County Meath for a shared resource teacher; the other County Meath schools that could be considered for a shared resource teacher with Rathbeggan school; the attempts that have been made to resolve this need for a resource teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[14683/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 153 together.
My Department has received applications for four resource teacher posts in respect of the following Six County Meath schools:
|
Roll Number
|
School
|
Enrolment
|
Date of application
|
|
18195
|
Clonaboy NS
|
76
|
1996
|
|
|
16646
|
St. Mary's GNS, Trim
|
585
|
1996
|
Joint application 1996
|
|
05630
|
St. Michael's BNS, Trim
|
275
|
1996
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17175
|
Bohermeen NS
|
253
|
1995
|
Joint application 1995
|
|
17986
|
Boyerstown NS
|
94
|
1995
|
|
18448
|
Rathbeggan NS
|
187
|
1996
|
|
Applications for resource teacher posts are reviewed on their merits. A resource post may be shared among a group of schools in an area where the number of pupils with disabilities in a particular school is not sufficient to warrant a full-time post. Consideration will be given to all schools in County Meath who have pupils with special needs and who are close to the applicant schools for inclusion in a resource teacher caseload.
I am not in a position at present to make additional resource teacher posts available to any primary school.
Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have allocated an additional 241 remedial teachers and 29 resource teachers to the primary sector. A total of 1,188 remedial teachers and 36 resource teachers are now in place.
I consider that the substantial improvements which I have already achieved in this area provide practical confirmation of my commitment to the needs of the children in question.
However, as Minister for Education I have to consider how best to deploy available resources across a wider range of special needs. I have to determine priorities and try to allocate resources to best effect.
During the period 1994/1995, in addition to allocating an extra 155 remedial teachers and 23 resource teachers, I adopted a particular focus on the needs of children attending special schools and classes. In addition to reducing the pupil teacher ratios in all such facilities, I provided a very substantial increase in the special capitation rates applicable in such cases.
In the current school year, I have adopted a particular focus on children who suffer from educational disadvantage and have sought to target resources into this area in an effort to break the cycle of disadvantage. As part of this approach, I recently launched a major new initiative aimed at bringing special targeted assistance to children in selected urban and rural areas who suffer serious educational disadvantage.
I am satisfied that since my appointment as Minister for Education I have achieved substantial advances across the entire spectrum of special needs, including the resource teaching area. It is my intention to continue this process.
