asked the Minister for Education the number of additional primary teachers who would need to be employed if he were (a) to reduce the upper limit for the recruitment of an additional teacher in all primary schools by five pupils, and (b) to reduce the lower limit for the retention of an existing teacher in all primary schools by five pupils.
Written Answers. - Primary School Teachers.
101.
The number would be 870 additional posts, if the pattern were a uniform reduction of five pupils in each category of school, irrespective of size. If on the other hand the reduction were on a cumulative basis, the figure would be 1,600 additional teachers.
102.
asked the Minister for Education the criteria he has adopted in order to identify primary schools entitled to employ a special trainee teacher or teachers; and whether these criteria have been agreed to by the INTO.
103.
asked the Minister for Education how many schools have employed special trainee primary teachers; and how many schools which are entitled to employ such teachers have not yet employed any.
104.
asked the Minister for Education how many of the 398 graduates who attended the recent introductory courses for special trainee primary teachers have taken up employment in primary schools.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 to 104, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, a delegate conference of INTO decided not to accept this scheme. My Department's circular 21/77 indicated that the special trainee teachers would be employed in the following categories of schools:
(1) In each national school in which there were a principal without class responsibilities and in which the number of pupils divided by the number of teachers excluding the principal and any authorised re-medical teacher exceeded 40, one additional post would be sanctioned.
and
(2) In the case of schools meeting the requirements of (1) above which are located in disadvantaged areas, consideration would be given to applications by boards of management for additional appointments within the limits of the overall allocation of extra posts.
Circular 22/77 stated that applications would also be considered for the appointment of special trainee teachers in schools which were not within these two categories but in which identifiable problems exist and in relation to overcrowded classes.