173 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of children attending primary schools in Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, have to travel with their children to Kilkenny for the service of a remedial teacher; and if she will approve the appointment of a remedial teacher to these schools in 1997 in view of the inconvenience this has caused for many years. [12461/97]

I understand that the cases to which the Deputy refers may relate to children travelling to Kilkenny to participate in programmes operated by the Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have recently made a significant funding allocation to this Association to assist it in its very valuable work. I am considering the possibility of making additional remedial teacher posts available to primary schools for the forthcoming school year. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the schools in question will be considered as part of this process.

174 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Education if she will reappoint a second teacher to Newtown national school, County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12463/97]

As the Deputy is aware, the staffing of a national school for a particular year is determined by the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year.