Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - School Staffing.

Proinsias De Rossa

I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for the opportunity to raise this urgent matter for Coláiste Eoin and I hope the Minister has some good news. It would be incomprehensible at any time for a proposal to emerge to cut the number of teachers at this school which it is located in Finglas west, an area designated as disadvantaged in educational terms and in other ways we have come to recognise in urban areas.

Coláiste Eoin is one of the most progressive vocational education committees I know. It has run the student industry links scheme for a number of years and has encouraged young people to develop their talents in all kinds of ways against the odds. It has won prizes in the scheme, not only in Dublin and nationally but in competition with schools all over Europe. This is happening in a school dealing with multiple disadvantage.

When the school authorities received word that its teacher numbers were being reduced in the coming school year, they were panic stricken because they will not be able to cope if the proposed cuts go ahead. Despite the increase in student numbers, from 68 last year to over 128 this year, despite the large proportion of remedial students in the intake, who need small class groups, learning supports and alternative curricula, despite having a large number of students with behavioural problems and attention difficulties; and despite it being the last traditional VEC school catering solely for the deprived, indigenous school-going population, and despite providing an exciting, innovative and stimulating range of courses in difficult circumstances, the school is faced with these cuts.

I raised this matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Flood, who has responsibility for social inclusion and the drugs issue. The Finglas area has a number of community development projects in progress a community drugs task force has been located there, and a number of its schools have disadvantaged status. This school not only needs the number of teachers it currently has but even more in order to cope with the problems it faces on an ongoing basis.

The decision is also surprising in light of the Government's commitment to the national anti-poverty strategy, introduced by the last Administration. I recommend the Minister reads that document, if he has not done so already, because it highlights education throughout. It makes clear that one reason for the ongoing vicious circle of poverty in disadvantaged areas is educational disadvantage. A high proportion of the long-term and short-term unemployed are young people who have not had a full education.

It is essential that schools like Coláiste Eoin are supported and not undermined through the loss of teachers. The rule may be applied generally but it should be more flexible in its application, particularly to schools like Coláiste Eoin. I realise that every Deputy can probably argue a case for a particular school not losing teachers but I appeal to the Minister to look specifically at the job Coláiste Eoin is doing as a VEC school which runs particular courses and has had enormous success in ensuring that young people who would otherwise have had no hope for the future have been put on the path towards a fulfilling life. The Minister should see that the rule as applied to this school will effectively undermine the excellent and dedicated work of its teachers.

Mr. Martin

I thank Deputy De Rossa for raising this issue. There have been no cuts in second level teaching posts this year, rather there has been an overall increase. Coláiste Eoin is under the control of City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee and the staffing allocation granted to the school is a matter for the VEC.

I will take the opportunity to outline how the staffing allocation granted to a VEC is determined. My Department grants a teaching staff allocation to each VEC annually, which is referred to as the initial allocation. This allocation is determined by the enrolment in the schools under the VEC on 30 September of the previous year together with the number of ex-quota posts. The initial allocation granted to City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee for the 1998-99 school year is 799 whole-time teacher equivalents, or WTEs.

On receipt of the initial allocation a VEC can submit an appeal for an increase in the staffing allocation to my Department. An appeal may be submitted for various reasons which include a projected increase in enrolments in the scheme or particular difficulties in subject provision. The VEC has not submitted an appeal for the 1998-99 school year to date. If an appeal is submitted I will be prepared to consider it.

To refer specifically to the position in Coláiste Eoin, the number of pupils enrolled in the school declined by 49 between September 1996 and September 1997, but I take Deputy De Rossa's point that an increase is projected for next year. On the basis of the reduction in pupil numbers the VEC has reduced the staffing allocation to the school by 4.34 WTEs for the 1998-99 school year — that is the figure I have seen. As stated, the allocation granted to Coláiste Eoin for a particular year is a matter for the VEC. If enrolments in the school are projected to increase or there are other special circumstances pertaining to the school, the VEC should include the details in its appeal to me. I will arrange for my Department to consider a teacher staffing appeal submitted by the VEC as quickly as possible.