Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when primary schools will receive notification of their entitlements to resource and learning support teachers under the weighted system in order that they can advertise positions and ensure they obtain qualified teaching staff for the beginning of the next academic year in September 2005. [16312/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department has completed its review of the general allocation system of resource teaching support for pupils within the high incidence disability category. The new model replaces that which was notified to schools in June 2004, which has been reviewed to take account of difficulties that it may have caused for smaller schools. A total of 660 additional special needs teaching posts will be put in place in primary schools from next September to facilitate the implementation of the new general allocation system. The introduction of this new system will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 permanent posts in primary schools from September next. A further 320 posts are being provided on a temporary basis to facilitate the transition to the new system.

My Department is devising school clusters in respect of allocations to be made under the general allocation system. These will be notified to schools shortly with the details of each school's individual allocation. This communication will clarify the position regarding the resource and learning support allocation available to all primary schools. My Department is also finalising a circular for schools, which will contain detailed information on how the new system will operate. It is intended that this circular will issue before the end of the school year.