Vol. 480 No. 6
591 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education if he will confirm that the provision of remedial teachers is discretionary and that the decision of providing a remedial teacher for a school lies solely with himself or whether the provision of remedial teaching is the responsibility of a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14651/97]
Remedial posts are allocated to schools by my Department on the basis of priority of need for remedial tuition. The number of remedial posts allocated in any given year is governed by resource availability and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas.
I would point out, however, that all fully qualified primary school teachers are trained in a variety of remedial teaching strategies, including strategies for tackling literacy and numeracy difficulties. As a general rule, therefore, a child's class teacher is ideally placed to provide the first line of support to pupils displaying remedial needs.
Where the child's need is of a more serious nature, the additional support of a dedicated remedial teacher may be required and every effort is made to accommodate such needs within the limits of available resources.
I accept the need for further action and I am at present reviewing provision across the special needs area to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible. I will be considering the issue of remedial supports as part of this review.
592 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education if he will have arrangements made for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 to be given at least three hours a week remedial teaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14652/97]
My Department has recently approved the allocation of eleven additional part-time hours per week to the school concerned, for the school year 1997-98, to cater for the special needs of pupils attending the school, including the pupil referred to by the Deputy. It is a matter for the authorities in the school to utilise the hours sanctioned, as they deem appropriate for the benefit of the students concerned.
