asked the Minister for Education if a request has been received from Our Lady of the Wayside Girls' national school, Bluebell, Dublin for a temporary assistant or substitute teacher; if in view of the pressing circumstances he will approve the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin School Appointment.
9.
The present enrolment at this school is not sufficient to warrant the appointment of a teacher to replace the teacher who is resigning. However, as an exceptional matter so as to avoid the disruption of classes during the courses of the school year, my Department have agreed to sanction the appointment of a temporary teacher in the post until 30th June next.
The attendance in that school fell for the first time to 150 for the quarter ended March, 1977. The board were informed that the regulations indicated that staff at the same level could be retained up to 31st December, 1977. At that stage the board of management were under the impression that a person who left to get married could be replaced.
That is for retention not replacement.
It appears to me——
A question, please.
Would the Minister not agree that it is victimisation? If the person who applied for permission to get married and left the school had been retained the school could have this teacher up to 31st December, 1977. Is the Minister aware that a serious situation exists in this area because there is no secondary school and there is a problem in relation to pupils? Is he aware that as this is a working class area it appears to me that the children in this area are being victimised and undue stress is being put on teachers and pupils? In view of the fact that the regulation indicates that staff at the same level can be retained until 31st December if there is no replacement would the Minister not consider it reasonable to allow them to appoint an additional teacher for the backward pupils in this school up to 31st December?
No. There is a remedial teacher in this school. If the school were to be allowed to employ somebody in place of the teacher who is now leaving then somebody in the school would become redundant on 1st January next. I do not think the Deputy would like that.
Could the temporary teacher be employed up to 31st December next? Surely the situation in this school demands that it be fully staffed? Many problems exist in this area. Would the Minister not agree that it is a silly regulation that indicates in one set of circumstances that they can retain the same number of teachers to teach the pupils and in another instance this will not be sanctioned because a person leaves?
I do not agree. Originally it was the same thing but this difference was brought in to eliminate what was considered an anomaly at the time. The school is fully staffed.
Question No. 10.
May I ask the Minister——
A final, brief supplementary. I am passing on to another question.
The headmistress has devoted her energies to remedial teaching. In view of the fact that there is a large number of backward pupils in this school, because there is no secondary school in the area and many of the children's parents consider that secondary education is a must and send their children outside the area to be educated——
This must come to a conclusion.
——does the Minister not consider that an additional teacher is necessary so that backward pupils get the education they desire? There is no reason why any working class area should become a political scrap heap.
I am calling the next question. If the Deputy does not obey the rules——
Would the Minister see if some further provision can be made to ensure that three teachers are retained?
Question No. 10 has been called.
The ratio is 29 to 1.
Would the Minister have another look at this special problem?
I have called the next question. Question No. 10.
This area is a political scrap heap because it is a working class area.
That is absolute nonsense and the Deputy knows it.