asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils in Rann na Feirste School, County Donegal; the number of teachers in this school; and the normal enrolment needed for a three-teacher school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal School.
33.
There are 56 pupils enrolled in Rann na Feirste school at present and the staff consists of a principal teacher and two assistants.
The normal enrolment required for a three-teacher school is 70: in the case of an amalgamated school a staff of three teachers may be retained on an enrolment of 65 units.
In the case of newly organised schools the staffing arrangements are made on the basis of the number of pupils likely to be reached within a reasonable period.
Will the Minister not agree that his decision in relation to the reopening of Rann na Feirste shows an obvious failure on his part to recognise the special position of Irish speaking schools and that this and Dún Chaoin are a very bad reflection on his Department?
I would not accept that at all. I have concerned myself with the education of the children. Where I was satisfied that I could cater adequately for that I was quite happy to reopen the school. Where I was satisfied that I was unable to cater for the educational needs of the children in a small one-teacher school and where I was equally satisfied that the children going from that school to Baile an Fheirtearaigh school would not have their cultural traditions in any way diminished then I felt I was doing the proper thing in relation to Dún Chaoin. In regard to Rann na Feirste I was satisfied that I could reopen the school and that the educational requirements of the children would be met.