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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

829 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will examine the position at St. Joseph's special national school, Balrothery, Tallaght, Dublin 24, following the loss of FÁS workers at the school; if he will sanction further posts in the area of childcare at the school in view of the loss of a number of FÁS community employment scheme workers; if he has satisfied himself in relation to the staffing following the loss of posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17582/99]

The Deputy will be aware that I announced a major new initiative in the special education area under which all children in the primary system assessed as having special needs arising from a disability will be entitled to an automatic response to those needs.

The level and nature of the response in each case will depend on the assessed needs of the child or group of children involved. The response may take the form of a full or part-time child care support depending on the number of children involved and the nature of their needs.

My Department has not received an application from St. Joseph's special school for additional special needs assistant support. The school currently has sanction from my Department for four special needs assistant posts. The inspector has been asked to provide a report on the level of additional support required by the school in question.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

830 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction a classroom assistant for St. Gabriel's national school, Bishopstown, Cork. [17583/99]

I assume that the Deputy is referring to St. Gabriel's special school, Curraheen Road, Bishopstown, Cork. This special school caters for children who have been assessed as suffering from severe or profound general learning disability.

My Department has already provided a total of 15 special needs assistant posts to this school. This allocation consists of two special needs assistants for each of the six classes in the school and an additional three posts to provide extra care for pupils who are considered to need one to one attention.

I understand that the school in question has not applied to my Department for any additional special needs assistant posts.
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