Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 3

Written Answers - School Staffing.

Michael Creed

Question:

173 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will have arrangements made for the immediate appointment of an assistant at Ballymoney national school, Ballineen, County Cork, in view of his commitment to appoint an assistant teacher in all one teacher primary schools. [27143/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

An Action Programme for the Millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in allocating resources. In this context, the programme specifically states that one teacher schools with ten or more pupils will receive a second teacher.

In the current school year, a total of 67 schools, which would otherwise have been one teacher units, are operating as two teacher units as a consequence of my supportive initiatives for one teacher schools.

For the moment I have sanctioned second teachers for one teacher schools which had an enrolment of 18 pupils or more as 30 September 1997. Unfortunately, Ballymoney national school does not meet this requirement and I regret that I cannot sanction a second post in the school at this time.

However, in the context of considering staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1999-2000 school year I am examining a range of options, with a view to identifying the most appropriate way to fulfil the Government's commitments to one teacher schools. The position of Ballymoney national school will be addressed in that context.