Vol. 496 No. 3
394 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to increase the number of teachers at St. Mary's secondary school, Newport, County Tipperary, in the interests of providing additional classes and subjects and reducing overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23073/98]
395 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of teachers, the overcrowding of classes and the reduction in the range of subjects available to students at Coláiste Mhichil, CBS, Sexton Street, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23074/98]
396 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has for improving the pupil-teacher ratio at Calasanctius college, Oranmore, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23246/98]
401 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that extra teachers are required at Sligo Grammar School Ltd., County Sligo, to cater for the needs of its 420 students in view of the fact it has only 23 teachers; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the pupil-teacher ratio in 1972 was better than in 1998; his views on whether spending on extra teachers would represent productive investment; the plans, if any, he has to deal with these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22340/98]
407 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science when extra teachers will be appointed to Pobalscoil Chiaráin, County Meath, where the pupil-teacher ratio was better in 1972 than in 1998 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22360/98]
422 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will allocate additional staffing to Presentation Convent, Askea, County Carlow. [22541/98]
436 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the pupil-teacher ratio in 1972 at St. McCartins College, Monaghan, County Monaghan, was better than in 1998; his views on whether this shortage of teachers means that many of the classes are over-crowded; the plans, if any, he has for a phased reduction in the ratio for appointing teachers to second level schools until levels of staffing are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22751/98]
441 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to increase the number of teachers in Ballinrobe community school, Ballinrobe, County Mayo. [22769/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 394, 395, 396, 401, 407, 422, 436 and 441 together.
School authorities may apply for an increase in the approved teacher allocation to cater for particular circumstances. Applications of this nature are considered under the curricular appeal process and each case is considered on its merits. I can assure the Deputies that the allocation of additional teachers to the schools which they mention will be considered when additional posts become available.
397 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to provide an extra teacher for Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Ferrybank, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22336/98]
As the Deputy may be aware, 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 at Scoil Naomh Mhuire on 30 September 1997 was 117 pupils, which warrants a staffing of a principal and three assistant teachers for the 1998-99 school year. These arrangements may be deviated from if a school is in breach of maximum class sizes guidelines, which are as follows: 35 in the case of a single-grade class group; 34 in the case of a class-group with two consecutive grades; and 31 in the case of a multi-grade class group.
The school authorities were advised on 4 June and again on 28 July 1998 that if the school was unable to comply with these guidelines in September 1998 they should contact officials from my Department. To date no such contact has been made, and in the circumstances I regret that there is no basis for sanctioning an additional teaching post at this school.
