Vol. 480 No. 2
324 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the current position on the application from St. Patrick's national school, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, for a classroom assistant position; if he will give details of the numbers of children with disabilities in the school; and if FÁS will be encouraged to provide adequate help from community employment scheme participants in the interim. [13473/97]
A child care assistant post has been sought for the school in question to address the needs of two pupils with disabilities attending the school.
It is my Department's policy that, where such posts become available, they are allocated on the basis of priority of need. To date, all such posts have been targeted at special schools and special classes catering for children with disabilities and children with profound-severe disabilities in particular.
I will consider the question of child care assistant support as part of a wider review of arrangements in the special needs area generally.
The needs of the school in question will be considered in this context.
It would be inappropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the community employment schemes operated by FÁS.
