Vol. 485 No. 1
113 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the primary schools in County Westmeath that have a full-time remedial teacher, a shared remedial teacher or no remedial teacher; and the proposals, if any, he has to extend the remedial teacher service for primary schools in County Westmeath. [22556/97]
At present, 58 of the 76 primary schools in County Westmeath have a remedial teaching service. Thirteen of these schools have a full-time remedial teacher and the remaining 45 have a shared remedial service. Eighteen primary schools in the county do not have access to a remedial teaching service at present.
In March 1997, the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1997-98 school year with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation.
These agreed arrangements were based on the allocation of 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.
114 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the secondary schools in County Westmeath that have the services of a remedial teacher on an ex-quota basis; the reason St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar does not have this service when other schools with similar enrolments and a similar socio-economic background of pupils have this service; and if he will rectify this inequality. [22557/97]
Four ex-quota remedial posts have been allocated to County Westmeath Vocational Education Committee and these have been assigned to the committee's schools in Mullingar, Athlone, Castlepollard and Killucan. An ex-quota remedial post has also been allocated to Loreto College, Mullingar. The posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need having regard to the existing provision within schools. Regard was also had to the recommendations of my Department's psychologists.
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate there are many competing demands for increased funding in all sectors of education. These demands are considered within the overall budgetary constraints. I can assure the Deputy that the position of this school will be kept under review and will be considered when next it is possible to allocate additional ex-quota remedial posts.
