Vol. 496 No. 6
414 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the suspension of a member of staff at Carndonagh community school, County Donegal, and the resultant threatened strike action by the trade union group; the steps, if any, being taken by the Department to facilitate a resolution to this dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/98]
I have been notified by the board of management of Carndonagh community school of the suspension of a teacher employed by the school.
I am not aware of any threatened strike action arising from this suspension.
My Department is in communication with the board of management and the teacher concerned with a view to putting in place the appropriate procedures in this matter.
415 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself that the figures in respect of student numbers contained in the October returns and the school registers match each other for the last ten years in respect of a Carndonagh community school, County Donegal where the question of the accuracy of the October returns document has been the subject of public controversy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23561/98]
416 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to accede to the request received from a trade union branch for access to the October 1992-3 returns in respect of a Carndonagh community school, County Donegal, which are understood to be in the possession of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23562/98]
I intend taking Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
My Department has received complaints concerning the management of Carndonagh community school and in particular, the inaccurate statement of pupil numbers submitted by the school to my Department for the years 1991-2 to 1994-5 inclusive. In response the Department took a number of steps which included an analysis of the returns submitted by the school, an analysis of the lists of pupils which were submitted in support of the complaint, interviews with the principal teacher and discussions and correspondence with the board of management. As a result, the Department concluded that there were clear weaknesses in the school's systems during those years, particularly in the area of roll keeping and that there were no reliable records of enrolments in the school for the years 1991-2, 1992-3 and 1993-4.
These weaknesses have been brought to the attention of the board and it has been reminded of its obligations to ensure that such returns to >my Department are accurate and complete and assurances have been received in this regard for the future. In addition, roll keeping procedures have been reviewed on a number of occasions since and my Department is satisfied that there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure the integrity of this process for 1994-5 and subsequent years.
My Department has received representations from the Teachers Union of Ireland concerning the complaints made concerning management at the school. While many of the issues are within the remit of the board of management, my Department is making every effort to resolve outstanding issues and where appropriate, documentation held by my Department will be made available to relevant parties.
My Department is continuing to monitor progress by the board of management in upgrading administrative and financial management at the school.
