Michael Ring
Question:422 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to increase the staffing levels at the Sacred Heart school, Westport, County Mayo. [23644/98]
Written Answers - School Staffing.
Pat Carey
Question:429 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, in place for the phased reduction in the ratio for appointing teachers to second level schools with particular reference to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 to allow schools to cater for all of the needs of the students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23652/98]
Michael Ferris
Question:430 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to improve staffing levels at St. Anne's secondary school, Tipperary town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23653/98]
Michael Ferris
Question:431 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to improve staffing levels at Scoil Mhuire, Green Hill, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23654/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:442 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on a phased reduction in the ratio for appointing teachers to second level schools until levels of staffing in schools are adequate to allow them to cater for all of the needs of their students. [23753/98]
Gay Mitchell
Question:449 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will support the reduction in the ratio for appointing teachers to second level schools to ensure that staffing in these schools is adequate to allow them to cater for all the needs of their students (details supplied). [23874/98]
Ivan Yates
Question:455 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the fact that Irish secondary schools have some of the largest and overcrowded classes in western Europe and are struggling to cope with the many demands placed upon them, both circular and administrative; if he will ensure that, in the forthcoming budget, provision is made to improve the pupil-teacher ratio in secondary schools from the current ratio of 19 to 1 to the ratio which prevailed in 1971, 15 to 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23911/98]
Michael Bell
Question:458 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the provision of extra teachers at St. Mary's diocesan school, Beamone Road, Drogheda, County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the teacher-pupil ratio was better in 1972 than it is now; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that there are 700 students attending this school and 40 teachers; his views on whether this is above the national average; if he will agree to a phased reduction in the ratio for appointing teachers to this school. [23916/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 422, 429, 430, 431, 442, 449, 455 and 458 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.
As the Deputies will appreciate additional resources must be considered in light of overall fiscal policy.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:423 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of national school lease agreements in place including in respect of premises no longer in use as schools; the distribution of lease agreements with five years but less than ten years and more than ten years to run; the number of releases, if any, requested from him; the number of requests, if any, he has consented to each year for the past five years in respect of his lease interest; the religious denominations of the schools in respect of which consents, if any, were given; the amount of money, if any, paid in consideration for his interest; if these payments at all times amounted to the specified figure of 85 per cent of the market value of the building; and the number of cases, if any, in which the release was given in the context of the patron transferring the building free of charge to community use. [23646/98]
The level of detail sought by the Deputy in relation to individual leases on approximately 3,200 schools is not readily available in my Department and it would take an inordinate amount of resources to compile the information. If the Deputy has a query in respect of the lease in a particular school, I would be happy to provide the details.
The information on releases over the last five years is being compiled at present and will be sent to the Deputy a quickly as possible.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:424 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has in relation to the development of a new lease format for national schools; the provisions in lease agreements for flexibility regarding the use of the property including any future need for transfer of the property to a different patron and the use of the property for other educational purposes; the future ownership of school land and buildings; the conditions in future leases aimed at securing diversity and pluralism and maximising the return on investment of public funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23647/98]
I have signalled my intention to change policy in regard to the ownership of new national schools. This represents a very significant policy change and requires detailed consultations and discussions prior to implementation. In the context of the proposed new State-ownership arrangements, new leases will be introduced which will have regard to the rights of the owner in respect of flexibility of usage of the property.