Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 9

Written Answers. - Concessionary School Post.

Tony Gregory

Question:

295 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Principal of St. Laurence O'Toole's Senior Girls School, Seville Place, Dublin 1 is obliged to work with disruptive pupils on a full-time basis resulting in classes of a 30:1 pupil-teacher ratio; if she will consider a second concessionary post for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The staffing of national schools for a particular year is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous school year.

In the case of St. Laurence O'Toole senior girls' national school there were 119 pupils enrolled on 30 September 1988 which warrants a staff of principal plus three assistants. The school also has the services of a full-time remedial teacher and a concessionary teacher under my Department's special scheme of teaching assistance for schools serving disadvantaged areas. On current enrolments (112 pupils) the pupil-teacher ratio in the school is 22.4:1 (excluding the remedial teacher); including the remedial teacher the pupil teacher ratio is 18.7:1.

Under the terms of the special scheme, a school of this size is entitled to one concessionary post.