Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 500: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) will retain their resource teacher in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38203/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The general allocation scheme has been in operation since September 2005 under which mainstream primary schools have been provided with resource teaching support, based on enrolment figures, to cater for children with high-incidence special educational needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs.

In addition to the general allocation, hours may be allocated for individual children with low incidence disabilities based on each child's assessed needs.

The general allocation for the school referred to by the Deputy is 1.6 full-time teaching posts and the school has also been allocated 26 resource hours in respect of children with low incidence disabilities. A full-time resource teacher is expected to teach for up to 25 hours per week. Accordingly, for the current school-year the school has sufficient hours to retain 2 full-time teaching posts.

Where schools are in receipt of support in respect of pupils with low-incidence special educational needs, those hours are allocated subject to the ongoing attendance of the pupils in respect of whom the hours were granted.