asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the increase in the number of children attending Cahermurphy national school, County Clare she will sanction the appointment of a temporary teacher at the school.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clare School Staffing.
15.
In order to warrant the appointment of an additional teacher in this school an average enrolment of 33 pupils is required under the rules. As the current enrolment is only 28, the appointment of such teacher, even in a temporary capacity, could not be authorised at present.
Might I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the pupil numbers have now increased fairly substantially since the second teacher who was in Cahermurphy national school up to about a year ago was released from that school. In view of the isolated area and the nature of the school in question, would it be possible, as a temporary measure, to have the position re-examined with a view to putting in a temporary teacher there. It is an urgent matter of which I think the Minister is aware from the discussions she has had already about this issue.
The Deputy is aware that a certain number of pupils must be in attendance for a certain length of time before an additional teacher can be appointed and that it is, unfortunately, not possible to depart from those arrangements.
The Minister will be aware that, had it been a two teacher school as it was up to about a year ago, the numbers could have been at this level and still have maintained two teachers. The difficulty now is you need a higher number of pupils to establish a second position there. It is likely that the numbers will go up fairly substantially, and there is urgent need for a second teacher there. Could the Minister have the matter re-examined in view of the circumstances in Cahermurphy to see if anything can be done about it?
If the numbers are rising as the Deputy says, when they rise and they have fulfilled the requirements they will get their second teacher. It is not possible to make a rule for one school different from that for all the other schools.
Sir, may I, with your permission, raise on the Adjournment with the Minister for Agriculture the great urgency of getting a directive from him to the Land Commission to acquire a 700 acre farm in Galway East?
I will communicate with Deputy Treacy. Now we come to questions nominated for priority.