Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:296 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a request for resource teaching hours for a person (details supplied) in County Louth. [31161/03]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
My Department has received an application for resource teaching from Ballapousta national school in County Louth for the pupil referred to by the Deputy.
Applications for special educational needs supports received between 14 February 2003 and 31 August 2003 are being examined on the basis of the supporting professional reports and in the context of resources already available at the school. The process involves an examination of each application and supporting documentation by a dedicated team including inspectors and psychologists. The school concerned will be informed of the outcome in the near future.
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:297 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 113 of 26 November 2003, when a decision by his Department will be made on the application from County Louth VEC for resource teacher allocation in the area of learning support. [31162/03]
Learning support and remedial teacher services are provided to all second level schools. This service is focused on students with literacy and numeracy difficulties who score below the 10th percentile in standardised tests of literacy and numeracy. The level of support provided in each case is determined by reference to the number of pupils enrolled in the school. In the case of schools with an enrolment in excess of 600, a full-time post is allocated. Schools with lesser enrolments receive five of a teaching post. A total of four whole-time equivalent learning support teacher posts have been allocated to County Louth VEC.
The role of the resource teacher service is to support students who have been professionally assessed as having a special educational need arising from a disability. All applications for such support are referred to the national educational psychological service for consideration and recommendation as to the nature and level of the support required. Applications for resource teacher support in respect of students attending schools in the County Louth VEC area are being reviewed by the national educational psychological service. Every effort is being made to expedite this process so that any necessary supports can be put in place as speedily as possible.