Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1225: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has given further consideration to the special needs of schools (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25551/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Schools catering for non-national pupils who have significant English language deficits are entitled to assistance to enable these pupils gain full access to the curriculum.

Schools that have 14 to 27 non-English speaking non-national pupils enrolled are entitled to a full-time temporary language support teaching post at primary level. Schools with 28 or more such pupils are entitled to two full-time temporary language support teachers. In exceptional cases, following consideration by my Department's inspectorate, a third teaching post may be sanctioned. The support for an individual pupil is provided for a period of up to two years.

On the basis that the non-national pupils for whom support was sought are enrolled in the schools referred to by the Deputy on 30 September 2005, my Department recently sanctioned the retention of a third language support teacher in the junior school and a second language support teacher in the senior school concerned.