Vol. 508 No. 3
369 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if further consideration will be given to the appointment of a full-time remedial teacher in St. Oliver's post primary school, Oldcastle, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18793/99]
The question of allocating additional resources to individual schools within a particular VEC is a matter in the first instance for the chief executive officer, with the agreement of the committee.
The Deputy will be aware that I announced some months ago that all second level schools in the free education scheme would be entitled to an automatic allocation in respect of remedial.
This provision was put into effect for the 1999-2000 school year. The allocation to individual schools has been determined by the enrolment in the school. Schools with enrolments of 600 or more pupils have been allocated a full post while schools with enrolments below 600 have been allocated 0.5 of a post.
370 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has, to provide additional resources to primary schools in County Roscommon in view of a recent survey of primary schools commissioned by the Roscommon Partnership Company which highlights inadequacies in the education service including the lack of a proper remedial and psychological service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18794/99]
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the remedial service has been extended to all first and second level schools in County Roscommon with a pupil teacher ratio of 10:1 or above with effect from 1 September 1999. Schools with a pupil teacher ratio below 10:1 are free to make a case for such support to my Department.
An educational psychological service is not yet available to primary schools in County Roscommon. I formally established a National Educational Psychological Service Agency on 1 September 1999. The process of recruiting additional psychologists for the agency has begun and interviews for new posts are being held. The development of this new service must occur on a phased basis. It is envisaged that all schools will have access to the service by the end of a five year period. It is hoped that there will be a nucleus of an educational psychological service in every county by the end of 1999. The National Educational Psychological Service will be organised on a regional basis in consultation with the clinical psychological service of the health boards who will continue to provide a service to parents and children.
371 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number and location of schools which remain in County Laois without the services of a remedial teacher; if this service will be provided in the future; and, if so, the date in this regard. [18795/99]
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that all second level schools in County Laois have now been allocated a remedial service.
All primary schools in the county with a pupil teacher ratio of 10:1 or above have also been allocated a remedial service with effect from 1 September 1999. Schools with a pupil teacher ratio below 10:1 are free to apply to my Department for a remedial teacher service where they can demonstrate a need for such a service.
372 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number and location of schools which remain in County Offaly without the services of a remedial teacher; if the service will be provided in the future; and, if so, the date in this regard. [18796/99]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a remedial teaching service has been sanctioned for all first and second level schools in County Offaly with effect from 1 September 1999.
