Vol. 480 No. 2
344 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that a school (details supplied) in County Offaly has access to a remedial teacher on a shared basis as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/97]
In March 1997 the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the next school year with the Irish National Teachers Organisation. These agreed arrangements were based on the allocation of all surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year and included the allocation of 51 remedial teacher posts to primary schools with effect from September 1997. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need for remedial tuition. The issue of religious denomination is not a relevant factor in determining remedial needs.
Accordingly, I am not in a position at present to allocate additional remedial teacher posts to primary schools. However, I can assure the Deputy that the needs of all schools, including the school to which he refers, will be considered in the context of any future allocation of remedial teacher posts which may be undertaken.
