Vol. 480 No. 6
548 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education whether temporary or substitute teachers will be appointed to the one-teacher schools in County Mayo until trained teachers become available; and the reason for any delays in this regard. [14261/97]
558 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education when he will sanction a second teacher to all one-teacher schools with ten pupils or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14271/97]
600 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education when a second teacher or a temporary or substitute teacher will be appointed to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo which has 22 pupils. [14782/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 548, 558 and 600 together.
In March 1997, the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1997-98 school year with the Irish National Teachers Organisation. These agreed arrangements were based on the allocation of surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year.
The Deputies will be aware that the action programme for the new millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in allocating resources. In this context, the programme specifically states that one teacher schools with ten or more pupils will receive a second teacher.
At present, there are 103 one teacher primary schools throughout the country which have ten or more pupils. A further 24 primary schools were due to become one teacher schools from September 1997. However, following my appointment as Minister for Education, I made special arrangements to ensure that these schools would retain their two-teacher status for the 1997-98 school year.
I am currently examining a range of options with a view to identifying the most appropriate way to fulfil the Government's commitments to all one teacher schools with ten or more pupils.
