Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 637: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a teacher (details supplied) in County Laois has never been made permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25517/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 638: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in County Laois, having reached the required enrolment of 14 traveller pupils, was never given a permanent resource teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25518/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received the necessary paperwork along with recommendations to have a post (details supplied) made permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25519/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 to 639, inclusive, together.

My Department's records confirm that the teacher referred to by the Deputy is a permanent member of the school staff.

The school in question is the base school for a temporary resource teacher for traveller post shared with another school. I understand that the teacher to whom the Deputy refers is currently assigned to this post. It was recommended to my Department that this post would be made permanent. However, the combined enrolment between both schools is currently twelve pupils so the matter of making the post permanent does not arise.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 640: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the criteria regarding resource teachers for travellers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25520/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policy in relation to the education of traveller children is that they should be taught in an integrated setting. In order to assist with the integration of traveller children, a resource teacher for traveller post (RTT) may be allocated to a primary school to cater for the educational needs of traveller children of primary school-going age. A minimum of fourteen children of the travelling community is required to qualify for an RTT post. The educational needs of traveller children may also be met through the general allocation model of resource teaching that was introduced into primary schools in September 2005.

The RTT post is allocated on the basis that the traveller children are taught either within their classroom with the RTT working in partnership with their classroom teacher or withdrawn in groups for intensive tuition according to their ages and perceived needs by the RTT.