Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 7

Written Answers. - Remedial Teacher Appointment.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

282 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education if she has received an application for a remedial teacher from a group of schools (details supplied) in County Cork; if so, whether she will approve this application; and if so, when she will approve this application. [22031/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

An application for a remedial teacher for the schools in question has been received by my Department. I am not in a position at present to allocate additional remedial teachers to primary schools.

Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have allocated an additional 241 remedial teachers to the primary sector. A total of 1,188 remedial teachers are now in place and the percentage of pupils who have access to a remedial service has increased from 77 to 87.

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.

In the current 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 remedial area. It is my intention to continue this process. When I am next in a position to extend the remediation service, the needs of the schools in question will receive every consideration.