asked the Minister for Education whether he will reconsider his decision to require a school (name supplied) to cancel the appointment of an additional teacher who had been appointed by the school some months before the Department's circular was issued requiring schools to submit for approval appointments of additional teachers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teacher Appointments.
65.
My Department do not require this school or any other school to cancel an appointment. I have already explained the position in this regard in reply to the Deputy's previous question.
The school which the Deputy has in mind was allocated an additional incremental post this year. In fact, it has been treated very liberally in the matter of staffing and in relation to the overall position there is no valid case for sanctioning a further additional incremental post in the school.
Would the Minister not agree that in January, 1971, teachers were appointed and that in May when they telephoned the Department they were informed that staff already engaged would be allowed to stay on but that subsequently this was cancelled? Why was the cancellation done on the telephone?
One of the teachers was sanctioned and as the Deputy is aware this school has a very good pupil-teacher ratio. The other case in the school involves a Higher Diploma in Education student. This school got the incremental teacher because of a general agreement with ASTI.
This is a very small school and they are now faced with a choice of whether to teach Irish or history.
I do not accept that this is so.
How is history to be taught by somebody who is not qualified to teach it?
That is not the position. The Deputy knows well there is a very good pupil-teacher ratio in the school and the whole matter is up to the management.