asked the Minister for Education if her Department's attention has been drawn to the difficult problems which exist at Scoil Aonghusa, Sráid na Maoran, Drogheda, County Louth due to severe overcrowding; if the school was advised that one extra teacher would be appointed when the number of pupils reached 175; if she is aware that since 1 September 1987 the number has reached 184 being 38 to 40 per class; if this problem is made more difficult because they have to operate in temporary rented accommodation where the rooms are very small and therefore unhealthy; whether this is an acceptable situation for teachers and pupils; the steps she proposes to take to urgently rectify this serious matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Drogheda (Louth) School.
289.
The rules for the appointment of an additional teacher at this school are not fulfilled at present. However, an application from the school authorities for such appointment would be considered, should the required average enrolment be reached for the quarter ended 31 December 1987.
With regard to the question of accommodation, my Department has approved in principle the provision of the usual grant towards the cost of providing permanent accommodation for the school. Because however, of the pressure on the capital available to my Department for the national schools building programme, I am not in a position at this stage to provide a financial allocation for the project. I am asking my Department's professional officers to inquire whether it may be possible with grant assistance from my Department to improve conditions at the existing premises pending the provision of permanent accommodation.