Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Jul 1996

Vol. 467 No. 7

Written Answers. - Dublin 4 School.

Eoin Ryan

Question:

183 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Education whether she will permit St. Briody's School, Haddington Road, Dublin 4, to retain a teacher in view of the fact that it is a disadvantaged school and she is increasing the teachers at other disadvantaged schools. [13965/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I understand that the school referred to by the Deputy is in fact St. Brigid's National School, Haddington Road.

The staffing of a national school for a particular year is determined by the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year.

The enrolment of St. Brigid's national school on 30 September 1995 was 254 pupils. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal and eight assistants for the 1996/97 school year. Accordingly, the ninth assistant's post at the school will be suppressed at the end of the current school year.

In addition to the staffing position outlined above, the school in question has a concessionary post on account of its disadvantaged status. A maximum class size guideline of 29 applies to schools designated as disadvantaged. If the enrolment at the school in September, 1996 cannot be managed within this guideline, the board of management of the school should then contact my Department in this matter.

The Deputy will be aware that I recently launched an important new initiative which seeks to break the cycle of educational disadvantage in selected urban and rural areas. The initiative is in response to reports which I commissioned from the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre.

In line with the recommendations in the reports, a targeted programme of supports is being made available to 25 selected schools in designated areas of disadvantage in the Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford urban areas.

The Education Research Centre has recently been in touch with all the schools in question, inviting their application. The centre will prioritise all applications in terms of level of need as represented by the data submitted by the schools and will advise my department of the outcome.

Schools selected as a result of this process will be invited to submit five-year development plans. Each such plan will be required to identify current difficulties and put forward specific proposals and targets for addressing the problems of educational disadvantage. Qualification for support will depend on the submission of suitable development plans.