Vol. 523 No. 1
1061 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has acceded to a request for a resource teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20293/00]
Under present arrangements, resource teachers are allocated where there are a number of children with special educational needs arising from a disability who are fully integrated into mainstream national schools and where there are no other adequate teaching resources available to the children. The eligibility of each child and the degree of need are established following con sideration of reports on assessments carried out by relevant professionals.
My Department's inspectorate has investigated the needs of the school referred to by the Deputy and there are currently no children with special educational needs enrolled at the school who would warrant the appointment of a resource teacher.
However, arrangements have been made for a meeting to take place shortly between my Department's inspectorate and the school management to discuss general staffing arrangements at the school.
