Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 5

Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

159 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, to provide Galway County VEC with the services of a guidance teacher for the Gaeltacht area schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4475/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The ex-quota allocation in respect of guidance to individual second level schools for a particular school year is determined by the enrolment in the school at the end of the preceding September. The allocation varies between two posts and 0.1 of a post, depending on the enrolment.

In the vocational sector the allocation in respect of guidance is included in the overall teacher allocation for the VEC scheme. In the case of County Galway VEC a total of four wholetime teacher equivalents have been allocated to the scheme in respect of guidance for the 1998-99 school year. It is a matter for the chief executive officer, with the agreement of the VEC, to allocate the resource to the individual schools within the VEC scheme, including those in the Gaeltacht areas.

Beverley Flynn

Ceist:

160 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Science if a remedial teacher will be appointed to Killala national school in County Mayo; and, if so, when this appointment will be made. [4501/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Arrangements are currently being made in my Department to extend the remedial teacher service to all primary schools from September next. As part of this development, primary schools with a pupil teacher ratio of below 10:1 may apply for a service where they can demonstrate the particular needs of their pupils. The remedial needs of Killala national school will be addressed in this context.