Nora Owen
Ceist:865 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will provide extra remedial and resource help for Pope John Paul II school, Malahide (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17787/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. 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 teaching support depending on the number of children involved and the nature of their needs.
I also announced a major expansion of the remedial teaching service to first and second level schools, and my priority was to ensure that all schools, who were without a remedial teaching service, would have access to one with effect from September 1999.
Pope John Paul II school, Malahide, has the services of a full-time remedial post at present.
The school also has sanction for 15 hours per week resource teaching support for six pupils who have been assessed with special needs.
The school's request for extra resource teaching hours is currently under investigation by my Department's inspectorate. Officials from my Department will be in touch with the school shortly in this regard.