Vol. 512 No. 1
220 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress, if any, on an application for funding from a centre (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if he will support the project; if he will consider an application for an additional remedial teacher from the centre and St. Canice's school, Grange Road, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the overall proposal and the potential for funding. [25563/99]
The application to which the Deputy refers has only recently been received in my Department and is currently being examined. A decision will be made on the request for funding as soon as possible.
With regard to the request for an additional remedial teacher, the Deputy will be aware that I have recently extended the remedial teaching service to all first and second level schools in the country with a pupil-teacher ratio of 10:1 or more. My priority has been to ensure that all schools, which were without a remedial teaching service, would have access to the service with effect from September 1999.
The school in question already has the services of a full-time remedial teacher. However, I can assure the Deputy that the remedial needs of the school will be fully considered in the event of additional resources becoming available to improve existing remedial services.
