Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 789: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a one to one resource teacher will be available to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [19976/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware of the new general allocation system for pupils with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia, mild and borderline general learning disability as well as those requiring learning support. The introduction of the new system involves 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 and to ensure continuity of service for children who have previously been given an individual allocation until those children leave the primary school system. It is also the case that pupils with lower incidence special needs, such as autism, will continue to be catered for on an individual application basis.

On the basis of the information available to the Department, it appears that the pupil referred to by the Deputy suffers from specific learning disability and therefore falls into the high incidence disability category. In the circumstances, his needs would fall to be met from the general allocation to the school. In this instance, the school in question has a general allocation of 12.5 hours. The new scheme does not prevent schools from giving one-to-one time with a resource teacher to any child who needs such support. Rather, it ensures that each school has enough resources to ensure that each child gets a level of support appropriate to their individual needs. The school can use its professional judgement to decide how hours are divided between different children in the school, to ensure that all their needs are met.

Research shows that some children with special needs will respond better with one to one tuition. Others, however, do better when taught in small groups. Often it is best for resource teachers to work with children in the classroom rather than take them away to a separate room as the children then have to catch up work done by the rest of the class in their absence. The type of response needed depends on the child. While the new scheme will not prevent schools from giving one to one time with the resource teacher to children who need it, it is important to note that one to one teaching is not the best option for every child.