Vol. 487 No. 6
309 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will appoint a remedial teacher to cover the three national schools at Grange, Ardattin and St Columba's Church of Ireland School, Tullow, County Carlow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5292/98]
312 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a second remedial teacher to the Achill area in County Mayo as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that the ten school cluster is widely dispersed and unwieldy. [4532/98]
316 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science when a remedial teaching post will be sanctioned for schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4578/98]
342 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science when a full time remedial teacher will be appointed to Creagh national school, Ballinasloe, County Galway, in view of the fact that they are in excess of the required 300 pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4832/98]
355 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to a submission by the board of management of a primary school (details supplied) in County Tipperary for the services of a remedial teacher for a small number of educationally disadvantaged pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4976/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 312, 316, 342 and 355 together.
I am not in a position at present to allocate additional 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.
Remedial teacher posts are allocated on the basis of priority of need and within available resources. There is no set enrolment figure which automatically attracts a remedial teacher post. The main criterion applied in the selection process is the number of children who have been assessed as being at or below the 10th percentile on appropriate standardised tests of attainment.
I am currently reviewing provision across the special needs area, including the remedial teacher area, to ensure that all available resources are deployed as effectively as possible.
I can assure the Deputies that the needs of the schools in question will be fully considered in the context of any additional remedial teacher allocations which may be undertaken.
