Vol. 440 No. 5
93 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if Kilkea national school, Castledermot, County Kildare, will retain its second teacher in view of the fact that future indications would seem to warrant this; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The staffing of a national school is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous year. In the case of Kilkea national school there were 31 pupils enrolled on 30 September 1992, which warrants a staff of Principal plus 1 assistant for the 1993-94 school year.
There were 23 pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September 1993, which warrants a staff of Principal only for the 1994-95 school year. The school would have needed an enrolment of at least 25 pupils in order to retain the post of 1st assistant.
The only exceptions that can be made from the agreed staffing arrangements are in the case of developing schools or where my Department's guidelines on maximum class sizes are being breached. If the school authorities feel that the school may qualify under either of these exceptions in September 1994, my Department will be happy to examine the position on receipt of detailed projected enrolments at that time.
