Vol. 502 No. 5
87 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received representations regarding the inadequacy of the offer of seven supported teaching hours for two severely visually impaired pupils at Rockchapel national school, Mallow, County Cork; and if he will allow the school to retain its second assistant teacher as a more satisfactory response to the needs of the school. [8651/99]
I am aware of the representations referred to by the Deputy.
The report of the Special Education Review Committee recommended that pupils with special educational needs who are fully integrated into mainstream schools should receive additional teaching support. The level of support required is determined by the nature and degree of disability of the pupil concerned and the pupil-teacher-ratio for that disability. For visually impaired pupils, the level of support is three and a half hours teaching support per pupil per week. My Department therefore sanctioned seven hours per week additional teaching support to help the school authorities cater for the special educational needs of the pupils concerned.
I understand that the school in question has failing enrolments and is, as a consequence, losing a teaching post. I can appreciate that the school is anxious to retain this teaching post. However, my Department can only allocate full-time resource teacher posts by reference to the specific support needs of the children with special needs. There are insufficient pupils with special educational needs in Rockchapel national school to warrant a full-time post.
My Department is considering the school's application for a special needs assistant. I expect a decision will be taken on this application in the near future.
