Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for permitting me to raise on the Adjournment the delay in sanctioning the appointment of a fourth teacher by the board of management of Crehana National School in Carrick-on-Suir.
The issue should never have to be discussed in this House, nor should the principal or parents of pupils at this school have had to approach me in order to obtain their entitlements. While it is we Members of this House who complain most about bureaucracy, we are expert in its generation.
Crehana National School has 95 pupils, yet only three teachers. A report outlining its pupil numbers, verified by the school inspector, was sent to the Department of Education but the school did not receive sanction for the appointment of a fourth teacher. Why? I am extremely disappointed that delay tactics be used by the Department in dealing with this matter. Having rung the principal this morning I was distressed to hear that in spite of the fact the school inspector verified that the school has 94 pupils on its register he has been sent back to investigate the number of pupils attending that school, but when he returns there will be new information as there are now 85 pupils attending that school.
The delay in sanctioning the appointment of an additional teacher is unfair to the principal, teachers and, most importantly, the pupils of Crehana national school. I want to know why they are not entitled to the pupil-teacher ratio that operates in other schools. What benefit will the Department gain from re-examining the number of pupils attending that school instead of sanctioning the appointment of an additional teacher? Surely the students in that school are entitled to the same pupil-teacher ratio as neighbouring schools. A neighbouring school with 52 pupils has three teachers. The position regarding Crehana national school is extraordinary.
On contacting the Department this morning I was told it was accepted that the school has the correct number of pupils to merit the appointment of an additional teacher and that a decision in that regard would be made shortly. I asked if it would be soon and was told it would be made shortly. I asked if it would be made next week and I was told probably not. I asked if it would be made the week after and was told the Department would have to get further information. I asked if information was forwarded to the Department by the inspectorate as well as by the principal to which the answer was yes. I was told the Department is seeking further information from the school instead of taking the positive step of sanctioning the appointment of a fourth teacher by the board of management.
The teachers are distressed about this matter. I cannot understand why the principal of that school must telephone the Department about the appointment of an additional teacher to which the school is entitled or resort to the union to fight its case.
I hope this will be the end of the matter and that I can tell the teachers in Crehana national school that there will be no more bureaucracy or questions asked about the matters. As it has 95 pupils, it is entitled to an additional teacher. I am confident that my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Allen, will give a positive response. This delay does not reflect well on politicians or augur well for the priorities of the Department of Education. The student's are my priority. I ask the Minister to put the pupils of Crehana national school first, to stop the bureaucracy and questioning and sanction the appointment of an additional teacher.
