Vol. 487 No. 4
177 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide the necessary funding for a resource teacher for Down's Syndrome children in the Kerry area to enable them to participate in mainstream education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/98]
I am not in a position at present to allocate additional resource teacher posts to primary schools. 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 arrangements were based on the allocation of surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997/98 school year. A total of 32 resource teacher posts have been allocated to primary schools with effect from September 1997. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need for access to a resource teaching service.
178 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department will appoint a remedial teacher to Kinlough primary school, Kinlough, County Leitrim. [4402/98]
179 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department will appoint a remedial teacher to Diffreen primary school, Glencar, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim. [4403/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
I am not in a position at present to allocate remedial teaching posts to primary schools. 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 arrangements were based on the allocation of surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year. A total of 54 remedial teacher posts have been allocated to primary schools with effect from September 1997. These posts were allocated on the basis of priority of need for access to a remedial teaching service.
