Vol. 476 No. 5
160 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the current position in relation to remedial provision for the 1997-98 academic year; when further information about the levels of provision for schools previously alluded to in County Donegal will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7480/97]
161 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to provide remedial help in the 1997-98 academic year. [7481/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together. As I previously advised the Deputy, I am not in a position at present to indicate whether additional remedial teachers will be made available to any primary school, including those schools in County Donegal, for the 1997-98 academic year. My capacity to allocate additional remedial teacher posts in any year is determined by resource availability in that year and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas. The position regarding the 1997-98 school year has not yet been decided.
As Minister for Education, I have to consider how best to deploy available resources across a wide range of special needs, including the need for additional remedial teacher posts. 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.
