Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Mar 1990

Vol. 396 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Schools Staffing.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

91 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of the agreement she has with the Teachers' Union of Ireland regarding the pupil/teacher ratio in community schools; whether it is desirable that a pupil/teacher ratio of 17:1 be in place as soon as possible; and if she will give a timescale for the attainment of this objective.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

92 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of her agreement with the Teachers' Union of Ireland in respect of vice-principal posts in community schools; and if she has any plans to restore vice-principal posts to an ex-quota position.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together.

The position is that in accordance with the Programme for Government and the currentProgramme for National Recovery the Government have given consideration to improvements in the pupil/teacher ratio at post-primary level in the context of demographic decline.

I have informed the Teachers' Union of Ireland that arising from such decline the Government have decided that, where there are teachers over quota by reference to a 20:1 pupil/teacher ratio, teachers may be retained to the extent that such retention would be justified by the application of a pupil/teacher ratio of 19:1. This arrangement will not apply to fee-paying post-primary schools.

The Government's intention is that the resource being provided by this concession should be used to make available additional remedial/guidance teaching to the pupils.

Extra resources will be made available to provide additional teachers in specific disadvantaged areas. The question of defining specific criteria to be applied in determining disadvantaged areas is under consideration in consultation with the teacher unions.

The Government will continue to keep the pupil teacher ratio at post-primary level under review and, in particular, will consider it in the context of any negotiations on a further programme for national recovery.

My Department have made no agreement with the Teachers' Union of Ireland in relation to the posts of vice-principal in community schools.