Vol. 383 No. 8
asked the Minister for Education the reason the Girls' Junior Comprehensive in Ballymun, Dublin 9, has been allocated only ninetenths of the time of a French teacher; the reason an application to appoint a home economics teacher was refused; if she will reverse these decisions and appoint a full time French teacher; and a full time home economics teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
35.
asked the Minister for Education if, in respect of the girls' comprehensive school, Ballymun, Dublin 9 she will indicate: (a) the reason 57 per cent of first year students are not being taught any continental language, (b) the reason first year students are not receiving instruction despite the fact that a French language teacher was appointed on 7 October, 1988, (c) the reason the appointment of a second home economics teacher was refused, (d) the reason students who have literacy and numeracy difficulties are being obliged to study science as an intermediate certificate subject because of the absence of a home economics teacher, and (e) the reason refusal has been given towards the appointment of a second counsellor in the school; and if, having regard to the overall situation in this school and the pressing socio-economic needs of the community within which it is located, she will make a statement on the matter.
I intend to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together.
In considering the authorised allocation of teaching posts to the girls' comprehensive school, Ballymun, for the 1988-89 school-year, my Department had regard to the needs of the school, to the resources available for education and other public services, and to the Government decisions relating to the adjustments to be effected in the staffing of community and comprehensive schools by the application of a pupil-teacher ratio of 20:1 as from the commencement of the 1988-89 session. Regard was also had to the deliberations of the Central Review Committee under the Programme for National Recovery concerning the implications of the decision to revise the pupil-teacher ratio as from the commencement of the 1988-89 session.
Because of the particular circumstances of Ballymun girls' comprehensive school, a post was sanctioned under the provision for disadvantaged areas over and above the number of posts warranted by the pupil-teacher ratio.
The board of management of the school made an appeal against the initial teacher allocation on a number of grounds; an increased allocation has recently been authorised and the board of management has been advised accordingly.
