Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Thurles (Tipperary) School

Noel Davern

Question:

507 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Education if she will grant disadvantaged status and an over-quota teaching post to St. Mary's Central School, Killenaule, Thurles, County Tipperary, in view of the fact that the school has lost two teaching posts for the 1996-97 academic school year, the local vocational school, Scoil Ruain, has been granted disadvantage status, the housing authority Respond is currently undertaking the development of 18 new housing units and the local authority is planning the development of a further 28 new housing units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15631/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

As the Deputy is aware 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 the school in question on 30 September 1995 was 240 pupils. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal and seven assistant teachers for the 1996-97 school year.

In addition to the staffing mentioned above, the school has the services of a shared remedial teacher.

In the circumstances, the eighth and ninth assistant's posts at the school have been suppressed.

The Deputy may 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.