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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Education Unit.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

78 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff employed in the special education unit; if he has satisfied himself that there is sufficient staff in the special education unit to cope with the additional demands made on that unit following the introduction of the new programme initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17119/01]

The special education section of my Department is sub-divided into two units. Unit 1 has responsibility for the management and delivery of programmes and supports for children with special needs and for Traveller children. Unit 2 is responsible for a range of programmes aimed at combating educational disadvantage and for provision for young offenders and children at risk. Unit 2 also has responsibility for meeting the document requirements of a number of statutory processes dealing with allegations of abuse in former industrial and reformatory schools.

The current aggregate staffing level of the special education section is as follows:

Grade

Number

Principal officer

2

Assistant principal

3

Higher executive officer

12

Executive officer

17

Clerical officer on higher duties

6

Clerical officer

15

Clerical officer on contract

10

Total

65

Since January 1999, 36 additional members of staff have been assigned to the special education section to cope with the very substantial increase in the volume and complexity of work arising from the Government's new policy initiatives in the areas of special needs and educational disadvantage. The staffing level includes a dedicated team within the section that has responsibility for the retrieval and cataloguing of records relating to the former industrial and reformatory schools.
The staffing needs of the special education section, as well as the needs of all other areas of the Department, are kept under constant review and staff are deployed to meet the most pressing needs.
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