Vol. 477 No. 2
196 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will allocate a resource teacher to be shared between St. Patrick's boys' and girls' national schools, Portrane-Donabate, County Dublin, in order to meet the special educational needs of children in the area whose parents are anxious that they are educated in their local school and community. [9079/97]
I am not in a position at present to allocate additional resource teacher posts to primary schools.
My capacity to allocate such posts in any year is determined by resource availability in that year and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas.
As Minister for Education I have to consider how best to deploy available resources across a wide range of special needs including the resouce teacher area. I am satisfied that since my appointment I have achieved substantial advances across the entire spectrum of special needs including the resource teacher area. It is my intention to continue this process.
When I am next in a position to allocate additional resource teacher posts the needs of the schools in question will receive every consideration.
