Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 1990

Vol. 394 No. 8

Written Answers. - County Kildare Vocational Schools Staffing.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

441 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education whether she has received requests through Kildare Vocational Education Committee for increased teacher allocations in respect of various vocational schools in County Kildare; if she will outline the total number of extra teachers requested in such submissions; the schools which have been identified as being in need of extra teachers; whether extra pupils have been enrolled in these schools thereby creating the need for extra teaching staff; if she will respond favourably in each case in the current year in order to maintain a reasonable pupil/teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department's allocation of teaching staff for the 1989-90 session in respect of full-time day courses in the second level area was issued to County Kildare VEC on 19 May 1989.

Following the receipt by my Department of appeals from the VEC requesting an increased allocation of teaching staff, my Department, on two separate occasions, revised that committee's allocation having due regard to the needs of the VEC within the context of its overall pupil enrolment and to the current pupil/teacher ratio.

Since May 1989, County Kildare VEC's allocation of teaching staff has been increased by a total of 4.3 wholetime teacher equivalents, and I am satisfied that the authorised allocation will enable the VEC to provide an adequate educational programme. The teacher allocation is made on a global VEC basis and not in relation to individual schools.

The Deputy will appreciate that the details of the teacher allocation are confidential and that it would not be appropriate for me to disclose specific details of the correspondence submitted by my Department by the Chief Executive Officer on behalf of County Kildare Vocational Education Committee.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

442 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction the appointment of a caretaker and cleaner in respect of Confey College, Leixlip, County Kildare; the number and location of Vocational Education Committee schools in County Kildare; which are at present operating without (a) secretaries, (b) cleaners and (c) caretakers; whether she intends to improve this situation; if she will remove any obstacles to such improvements; if she will make such appointments in the current year in the case of Confey College and at vocational schools in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Within the constraints of present Government policy on public service staffing my Department has endeavoured to respond as positively as possible to problems that arise in relation to staffing in the vocational sector.

I understand that apart from Confey College the other County Kildare VEC schools have some measure of clerical assistance. At present Confey College has no approved caretaking/cleaning services and the VEC school in Kildare town has no approved caretaking service.

I recently met a delegation from Kildare VEC to discuss staffing issues and have asked my Department to examine further what measures may be taken to address the problems raised.