Micheál Martin
Question:140 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will amend the current pupil teacher ratio in schools to ensure that Letterfrack national school, County Galway, will not lose a teacher in 1996. [23025/96]
Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
The staffing of a primary school for a particular year is determined by the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year. The enrolment of Letterfrack national school fell from 93 pupils in September 1994 to 82 pupils in September 1995. This enrolment of 82 pupils warranted a staffing of a principal and two assistants teachers in the current school year. A minimum enrolment of 91 would have been required to retain the post of third assistant. In the circumstances it was not possible to retain the post of third assistant at the school.
In addition to the staffing mentioned above, the school also has the services of a shared remedial teacher. Additionally, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school has been included in one of the 25 clusters of small rural schools in the "Breaking the Cycle" initiative. This will involve the appointment of a coordinator in each cluster who will be a resource and support to the teachers and children in the schools in the cluster.