Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 5

Written Answers. - Early Childhood Education.

Tony Gregory

Question:

225 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science his response to the request for the retention of the middle infant class (details supplied) in St. Laurence O'Toole's junior boys school, Seville Place, Dublin 1. [15717/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I acknowledge the request for the retention of the middle infant class in St. Laurence O'Toole's junior boys school. I reaffirm my Department's policy on the matter.

The primary curriculum is designed as an eight year course. It is flexible and child centred and can be adapted to cater for the individual needs of pupils. Furthermore, there is no official pro gramme for a middle infant class within the primary curriculum. As a general rule, primary pupils should progress from one standard to a higher standard at the end of each school year.

I acknowledge that there may be individual cases where it is felt that a pupil would benefit educationally by remaining in the same standard for a second year. However, the number of such cases should be minimal, and under no circumstances should an additional grade level be introduced through the retention of all, or a substantial proportion of, the pupils at a grade level for a second year.

The location of a school in a disadvantaged area does not constitute grounds for breaching the principles underlying this policy. There is a range of supporting measures in place to address the needs of pupils in disadvantaged areas, and St. Laurence O'Toole junior boys national school has been allocated significant additional resources in recognition of its disadvantaged status. In the current school year the school has the services of a principal teacher and two mainstream teachers, which is the appropriate staffing allocation for a school with 86 pupils. In addition, the school has two Breaking the Cycle posts, a remedial teacher and a concessionary post arising from its designation as disadvantaged. The school also enjoys the services of a shared home school liaison post and a shared counsellor. The school will retain all of these posts in the coming school year.

In the circumstances, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot allow this school to retain its middle infant class. However, officials of my Department are in discussions with the authorities of the school with a view to putting in place transitional arrangements for the coming school year.