Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

718 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline, in respect of primary and post-primary schools in Kilcock, County Kildare, the extent to which extra facilities have been sought from his Department; when such requests are likely to be positively responded to; whether all requirements such as special needs, resource, remedial teaching, psychological assessment or other special needs requirements are being met or are likely to be met in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21237/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

727 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline, in respect of each of the primary and second level schools in Celbridge, County Kildare, the extent to which special needs, resource or remedial teaching requirements are being met or are likely to be met; whether it is intended to improve psychological assessment facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21246/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

733 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline, in respect of primary and post-primary schools in Maynooth, County Kildare, the extent to which remedial, resource or special needs teaching requirements are currently being met or are needed; the degree to which psychological assessment facilities are required or proposed; the extent to which he expects such requirements to be met in full in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21252/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

734 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline, in respect of primary and post-primary schools in Leixlip, County Kildare, the extent to which remedial, resource or special needs teaching requirements are currently being met or are needed; the degree to which psychological assessment facilities are required or proposed; the extent to which he expects such requirements to be met in full in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21253/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 718, 727, 733 and 734 together.

I wish to inform the Deputy that with regard to primary schools, all applications for resource teacher and special needs assistant resources received after 14 February 2003 and by close of business on 31 August 2003 are being examined on the basis of the supporting professional reports and in the context of the resources already available to the school. The process involves an examination of each application and supporting documentation by a dedicated team of inspectors and psychologists and schools will be informed of the outcomes as early as possible in the school year 2003-04.

In respect of learning support and remedial teaching, there are approximately 66 learning support teachers in the primary system in County Kildare. It is not envisaged that any additional posts will be allocated to schools in the 2003-04 school year.

All second level schools in the free education scheme have an entitlement to an ex-quota teacher allocation in respect of remedial education. The allocation to individual schools is determined by the enrolment. In addition, supports have been allocated for the 2003-04 school year to second level schools in County Kildare to cater for students with special needs, including additional resource hours amounting to 38.7 wholetime equivalent teaching posts and 6.92 wholetime equivalent special needs assistant posts.

As further reports and recommendations become available, my Department will be in contact with the relevant school authorities on an ongoing basis throughout the school year.

The present position regarding psychological services in County Kildare is as follows. All 30 second level schools and 33 out of the 96 primary schools receive a service from the national educational psychological service. This includes an increase of four this month. Due to general staffing constraints, it is unlikely that there will be any further expansion of my Department's psychological service in County Kildare during the current school year. Currently, schools without access to the NEPS service may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, details of which may be found on my Department's website.

In regard to facilities of a capital nature being provided by my Department, the 2003 capital programme has been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website atwww.education.ie.Budgetary provisions in 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progression of these projects. My Department does not intend to put further large-scale building projects into architectural planning during 2003.