asked the Minister for Education the names of the assessors appointed under section 23 of the regulations and rules of procedure for national schools to act on the selection board for the selection of a principal of St. Dympna's special national school, Ballina, County Mayo, in August-September 1980 as independent assessors; the number of candidates for the post who held the Diploma in Special Education; whether the person appointed as principal possessed that diploma; if he will make a statement on his Department's policy in relation to the appropriateness of principals of special national schools holding such a qualification; if Western Care make any financial contribution towards the running of the school in question; and whether in such circumstances he would regard any assessor with connections with Western Care as being a fully independent assessor in line with his Department's regulations and procedures.
Written Answers . - Ballina School Post .
100.
: In the case of an appointment to a post as principal of a school the selection board consists of the chairman of the board of management of the school in question and at least two assessors independent of the board of management appointed by the patron on the request of the chairman. This is in accordance with the "Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure" for boards of management in national schools. It would not be appropriate for me to name the assessors appointed in any individual case without the consent of the patron by whom they were appointed and as a matter of general policy I would not consider it desirable to seek such consent.