Vol. 488 No. 7
417 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Question No. 185 of 29 January 1998, the decision made regarding the one teacher school in County Sligo (details supplied), in view of the fact that there will be 18-20 pupils attending the school prior to the summer recess and this number will increase in the next two years to 40, based on the figures supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7162/98]
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. Accordingly, there are no teaching posts available to me for allocation to one teacher schools in the current school year.
As yet no decisions have been taken regarding staffing allocations for primary schools for the 1998-99 school year. However, the Deputy can be assured that the needs of one teacher schools will be taken into account when decisions in this matter are being made.
