Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 1689: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will grant an increase in hours for practical subject teachers in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2362/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department allocates additional teaching hours to Vocational Education Committees to support the delivery of education programmes in a range of facilities including special schools under the heading Co-Operation Hours with Other Institutions. These allocations are made in response to specific applications which are submitted by the relevant VECs in advance of the commencement of the school year to which they relate.

St Brigid's Special School is currently in receipt of 1,350 Co-Operation Hours. Co. Louth VEC has sought an increase of 418 hours in their allocation for the 2006/2007 school year. My Department is currently arranging a review of allocations to VECs under Co-Operation Hours with Other Institutions and the needs of St. Brigid's will be considered in the context of this review.