Vol. 472 No. 3
151 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education if she will accede to a request from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6W for the appointment of a 17th assistant to avoid a situation whereby at least three classes will have more than 38 pupils per class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23111/96]
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 referred to by the Deputy on 30 September 1995 was 475 pupils. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal and 15 assistant teachers for the 1996-97 school year. In addition, the school has the services of a remedial teacher.
I understand that the current enrolment of the school is 474 pupils. This enrolment is capable of being managed within the maximum class size guidelines laid down by my Department. Accordingly, there is no basis for allocating additional staffing to this school.
152 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education if she will appoint two full-time remedial teachers in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24, in view of the fact that this school had two such posts up to January 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23112/96]
Remedial teacher posts are allocated on the basis of need and are reviewed on a regular basis by my Department's primary inspectorate to ensure that they are used to maximum effect.
The school referred to by the Deputy had the services of two full-time remedial teachers up to January 1996. Following a review, it was determined that there was scope for the rearrangement of the school's remedial service to provide for the needs of a school nearby. The level of remedial service in the school in question was reduced from two full-time posts to one full-time post and one post on a shared basis to cater for the remedial needs of the pupils attending the nearby school. I am satisfied that the revised service caters adequately for the remedial needs of pupils attending the school in question.
153 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education if she will approve the appointment of a home-school liaison teacher and a school counsellor for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in view of the request from this school for such appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23113/96]
Under the present arrangements, the home-school community liaison scheme is focused on schools in designated areas of disadvantage. Schools are invited to participate in the scheme on the basis of priority of need as assessed by my Department's inspectorate. In selecting schools for inclusion in the scheme, particular regard is had to the prevailing levels of pupil participation in the education process and the level of parental involvement in the affairs of their local school.
The home-school community liaison scheme at primary level was last expanded in the 1995-96 school year by the inclusion of an additional 49 schools. This brings the total number of schools at primary level to 181 with the service of 105 local co-ordinators.
154 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education if she will accede to the request from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 for the retention of its 15th assistant in view of the special circumstances of this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23116/96]
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 St. Maelruain's senior national school on 30 September 1995 had declined to 448 pupils from 465 pupils in September 1994. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal and 14 assistant teachers in the current school year. The school needed a minimum enrolment of 456 pupils in order to retain the post of 15th assistant. In the circumstances, the 15th assistant's post was suppressed in June 1996. In addition to the staffing mentioned above, the school has the services of a remedial teacher.
I understand the special circumstances of the school mentioned by the Deputy relate to the catchment area which this school serves. It has been stated that the school operates on the margins of an extensive area of disadvantage, but is not included in the disadvantaged areas scheme. Regretfully, I have no plans at present to extend disadvantaged areas status to additional primary schools.
