Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 31 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

190 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs teachers in place throughout the country; the likely increase in the number of remedial teachers; the developments required to meet the needs of all pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3077/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department currently allocates teaching posts to special classes in primary schools, to special schools and to support children with special needs in mainstream primary schools.

It is necessary to view each pupil's special needs on an individual basis. For some pupils the nature of the special need may be such that the child can perform quite successfully in an integrated setting with the support, where necessary, of a remedial or resource teacher. Where more serious cases of difficulties arise, provision is made in special schools or special classes dedicated to such children.

There are currently 109 special schools and approximately 598 special classes in the country. A total of more than 1,000 resource teacher posts are now in place in primary schools nationally and my Department is continuing to allocate additional posts in response to identified need.

At present a total of 1,485 learning support teachers are currently in place in primary schools nationally. In the event of additional learning support teacher posts becoming available, the needs of all schools will be considered by my Department.

With regard to second level, my Department allocates resource posts, special needs assistant posts and concessionary teaching hours to second level schools to cater for special needs pupils. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authorities. Each case is considered on its merits and determined on the advice of the psychological service. In the current school year my Department has approved 262 resource posts and the equivalent of approximately 277 whole-time teacher equivalents in concessionary teaching hours to assist special needs pupils in second level schools. All second level schools in the free education scheme have an entitlement to anex quota teacher allocation in respect of remedial allocation. The allocation to individual schools is determined by the enrolment. Schools with an enrolment of 600 pupils or more are allocated a full post. Schools with an enrolment of less than 600 pupils are allocated 0.5 of a whole-time post in respect of remedial education. In the current school year 560 whole-time teacher equivalents have been allocated to second level schools in respect of remedial education.