Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 6

Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.

Joe Jacob

Ceist:

155 Mr. Jacob asked the Minister for Education whether she will provide a remedial teacher for the 300 pupils of schools (details supplied) with a view to eliminating the severe disadvantage at which these children are placed in comparison to their fellow pupils in other neighbouring schools, in view of the fact that these pupils are already in mixed level classes and that this service has been repeatedly requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24013/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Remedial teacher posts are allocated to schools on the basis of priority of need as determined by my Department following the collection and analysis of data from schools by my Department's inspectorate. The allocation of such posts is also subject to resource availability in any given year.

I am not in a position at present to allocate 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 per cent to 87 per cent.

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 referred to by the Deputy will receive every consideration.