Michael Creed
Question:263 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education the procedures involved in applying for an additional teacher in a national primary school; and the criteria applied by the Department in determining such an application.
Written Answers. - Teacher Appointment Criteria.
The staffing of national schools for a particular year is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This is in accordance with the agreement between the Government and the INTO. A copy of the schedule in operation for the 1991/92 school year is attached.
The only departure from this procedure is in the case of the maximum class size guidelines, set down by my Department, being breached:
39 in the case of a single-grade class-group,
38 in the case of a class-group with two consecutive grades,
35 in the case of multi-grade class-groups.
If a board of management examines their enrolment and finds the appointment of an additional teacher is warranted, an application for the sanction of the appointment should be made to my Department.