Vol. 486 No. 2
183 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department intends to appoint a resource teacher or teacher of special classes to Bunninadden national school and other national schools in south Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2282/98]
I understand that the school in question has applied to my Department for the appointment of a resource teacher. However, no application has been received from the school for the establishment of a special class.
In March 1977, 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 the surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year and include the allocation of 26 resource teacher posts with effect from September, 1997.
Accordingly, I am not in a position at present to allocate additional resource teacher posts to primary schools. However, I am currently reviewing provision across the special needs area, including the resource teacher area, to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible. I assure the Deputy that the needs of Bunninadden national school and other schools in the south Sligo area will be fully considered in the context of any additional allocation of special supports which may be undertaken.
The Deputy will also wish to note that the three children with Down's syndrome enrolled in the school will benefit from the services of a visiting teacher from this week on.
