Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
419 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of extra resource teachers employed following his announcement at the INTO conference earlier in 2004 of 350 posts; the details of the breakdown of the geographical locations to which these teachers have been appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21780/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that approximately 340 whole-time equivalent posts, made up of part-time hours allocations, have been allocated at this time.
Arrangements are being made to allocate the remaining posts in the near future when the clustering of smaller schools has been completed. The 340 posts have been sanctioned throughout the country to cater for pupils with lower incidence special educational needs. I will not be in a position to indicate the distribution of the assigned teachers until the clustering arrangements have been finalised and the remaining posts have been allocated.
420 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider the case of a person (details supplied) in view of a recent court decision. [21781/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application referred to by the Deputy has been reviewed by my Department. Arising from the review, my Department's position remains that satisfactory facilities exist within the State to meet the person's educational needs. In the circumstances, it is not proposed to make funding available for the person in question to attend school abroad. In the other case referred to by the Deputy, my officials advised that no appropriate education provision existed within the State capable of meeting the needs of the individual concerned. For that reason, funding has been provided for a suitable educational placement abroad.
