Vol. 495 No. 1
381 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to provide a resource teacher for Castleconnell national school, to be shared with Lisnagry and Newport schools, in view of the number of children with special needs in these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19096/98]
382 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has received an application for a resource teacher in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19097/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together.
I am aware of the cases made by the schools in question for a resource teacher post.
My capacity to allocate additional resource teacher posts in any given year is dependent on resource availability and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas.
I recently allocated 26 resource posts to national schools with effect from September 1998. There are now 104 resource teacher posts at primary level.
I will continue to review needs in this area. In the event of additional resource teacher posts becoming available for allocation, I can assure the Deputies that the needs of the schools in question will be fully considered.
383 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of one teacher schools in County Kildare; his policy for dealing with these schools; and when these schools will receive a second teacher. [19098/98]
At present there are three one teacher schools in County Kildare.
As the Deputy will be aware, An Action Programme for the Millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in allocating resources. In this context, the programme specifically states that one teacher schools with ten or more pupils will receive a second teacher.
I have commenced the implementation of this policy to be completed within the lifetime of this Government. As an initial step, all one teacher schools with a minimum of 18 pupils on 30 September 1997 have received a second teacher for the current school year.
