Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Richard Bruton

Question:

434 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the threat that St John of God's secondary school, Dublin 5, is in a very disadvantaged area and may lose the only teacher qualified to teach Spanish, for which students in second, fifth and sixth years are already in the middle of a course of study; and if he will ensure that this teacher will be retained. [15195/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

This school has a number of teachers who are over the quota and who are subject to redeployment in accordance with the terms of the redeployment scheme for lay teachers in Catholic secondary schools.

Following consideration of an appeal from the authorities of the school, my Department agreed to the retention of all of the teachers concerned except one who teaches Spanish and other subjects. If the administrator of the redeployment scheme is unable to redeploy that teacher to a suitable permanent vacancy in another school, the teacher will be retained in St. John of God's secondary school for the 1999-00 school year.

In the event of the teacher in question being redeployed, my Department will consider the allocation of concessionary hours to the school for the 1999-00 school year to cater for the students currently studying Spanish.