Tony Gregory
Question:254 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if St. Catherine's senior girls school, Dublin 7, will retain the 11th assistant teacher in September 1999 when there will be 308 pupils on the roll. [13492/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
The staffing of primary schools is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between this Department and the education partners.
The current staffing of St. Catherine's senior girls school is a principal and 11 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 335 on 30 September 1997. Additionally, the school has the services of a remedial teacher, a concessionary teacher due to the schools disadvantaged status, a teacher for the mildly mentally handicapped and a shared home school liaison teacher.
The enrolment on 30 September 1998 – on which the staffing for the 1999-2000 school year is based – was 298. Unfortunately, this does not meet the retention requirement for the 11th teacher in this school.
While a school may apply for an additional teaching post under the criteria for developing schools, the projected enrolment would be insufficient to qualify for such a post.
Richard Bruton
Question:255 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if Scoil Mhuire na Trocaire national school, Buttevant, will retain a teacher post which would otherwise go on the panel in view of the prospective rise in enrolments. [13493/99]
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that sanction has been given to Scoil Naisiunta Mhuire na Trocaire to retain the services of a temporary teacher at the school for the 1999-2000 school year.
This favourable decision was relayed to the board of management by officials of my Department in the last few days.