I welcome the opportunity to raise the urgent need for the appointment of a fifth temporary teacher for Ballingarry national school. I commend and congratulate the teachers whose dedication and commitment to the children of this school is exceptional. I also congratulate the parents who have shown tremendous determination and consistency in this matter. Their efforts have resulted in many improvements in the school. I acknowledge the appointment by the Minister for Education of a remedial teacher to this school. The people of the area are very grateful for this facility. However, all the good work achieved by that appointment will be undone because the school now has larger classes due to the present pupil-teacher ratio.
The Department has recognised the social and economic needs of the area by giving this school disadvantaged status. The problems are acute and they must be addressed on an individual basis. Class sizes are too large as the school is only two pupils short of the required number for a fifth teacher. The school, like many others, has experienced a serious decline in numbers in recent years and the number of teachers has been reduced from six in 1992 to five in 1993 to four as and from 1 September 1994. This has resulted in a major reorganisation of resources in the past three years.
It is regrettable that the appointment of a remedial teacher and the designation of the school with disadvantaged status will be counter-balanced by the large class sizes. The essence and value of education depends totally on class size. There is little point having a remedial teacher and disadvantaged status if class sizes are larger than was the case previously. These pupils require individual attention and much progress has been made with them as a result of improved resources. However, everybody's morale has been damaged by the fact that the classes are now larger than heretofore.
I would ask the Minister to judge the need for the appointment of a fifth teacher on an individual basis. This school is only two pupils short of the requirement and there are indications that two pupils will be joining the school during the school year. However, the regulations laid down by the Department of Education are such that the school will have to operate with four teachers for the entire year because it was two pupils short at the start of the school year.
I urge the Minister to show the same interest and caring attitude towards Ballingarry national school as she has shown in the past. We appreciate the additional resources made available to the school, but they can only be 100 per cent beneficial if class sizes are kept to the level of the past year.
I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Aylward, is here to respond to this motion. He is close enough to south Tipperary to have a personal interest in the educational provisions in the area. Ballingarry school is making a modest request and in view of the many teachers unemployed at present and the advantages that will evolve for the students from the appointment of a fifth teacher, I consider it not only right but prudent judgment of the Minister to proceed with this appointment forthwith.
