Donal Carey
Question:362 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has reviewed the case for retention of a teacher at Doonbeg national school, County Clare (details supplied). [12760/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
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 of the school in question on 30 September 1998 was 48 pupils. This enrolment warrants a teaching staff of a principal and one mainstream class teacher for the 1999-2000 school year. An enrolment of 53 pupils would have been required in September last in order to retain the second mainstream class teacher.
In the circumstances, I regret that even though there is a significant improvement in the primary school staffing schedule for the coming year, there is no basis for the retention of the second mainstream class teacher at Doonbeg national school for the 1999-2000 school year.