Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Mary Harney

Question:

108 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to appoint a teacher-counsellor to the Marist Scoil Íosagáin project and a teacher-counsellor to the James's Street Mater Dei project to allow the education support project established in the lower Crumlin south inner city area to continue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7802/97]

Mary Harney

Question:

110 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to appoint a teacher or counsellor to the Talbot senior national school, Bawnogue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, in view of the fact that this school is located in an area designated as disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7845/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 110 together.

The staffing of a national school for a particular year is determined by an enrolment of the school on the 30 of September of the previous year. The enrolment of Talbot senior national school on 30 September 1995 was 454 pupils. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principla and fourteen assistant teachers in the current school year. Additionally, as an exceptional matter, the school was allowed to retain its fifteenth assistant post in the current year.

I would also wish to draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that Talbot senior national school has the services of a concessionary teacher on account of its designation as a disadvantaged school, a remedial teacher, a home school liaison teacher and two special additional teachers to cater for pupils with special needs.

The enrolment of Scoil Íosagáin on 30 September 1995 was 189. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal and five assistants in the current school year. Additionally, as an exceptional matter, the school was allowed to retain its sixth assistant post in the current year.

I would like to draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that Scoil Íosagáin has the services of a concessionary teacher on account of its designation as a disadvantaged school, a remedial teacher and a shared home school liasion teacher.

Since becoming Minister for Education I have introduced a number of measures to address the problems of difficult or disruptive children. In 1995, I introduced a pilot teacher counsellor scheme with the specific aim of addressing these problems. A total of 27 teacher counsellors have been allocated to selected schools in the north inner city and Tallaght-Clondalkin areas of Dublin. The scheme will be extended in accordance with available resources.

In cases of serious disruptive behaviour, the needs of the child may be such as to warrant placement in a one of a range of special schools or classes for children with emotional disturbance.

I am aware of the case made by the schools to which the Deputy refers. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of these schools will be fully considered when I am next in a position to allocate additional resources to special needs children in the primary sector.