My capacity to allocate additional resource teachers in any year is dependent on the availability of posts arising from the demographic decline in the primary system. Such posts as became available for the 1997-98 school year were largely allocated by my predecessor as part of an agreement with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation on overall staffing arrangements, and included the allocation of 26 resource teacher posts with effect from September 1997.
I will continue to review provision across the special needs area, including the resource teaching service, to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible. I assure the Deputy that the needs of the schools to which he refers will be fully considered in the context of any additional allocation of resource teachers which may be undertaken.