Vol. 507 No. 4
232 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give an up to date report regarding the appointment of a resource teacher to cater for children with special learning difficulties at Rush national school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17073/99]
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department recently sanctioned the allocation of a resource teaching post for Rush national school on a shared basis with three other schools.
My Department has notified the schools of this allocation.
233 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the need for the retention of the fourth teacher at Naul national school in view of the enrolment numbers for September 1999 and the fact that this is a developing area. [17074/99]
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 Naul national school is a principal and three mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 87 as at 30 September 1997. The enrolment as at 30 September 1998, on which the staffing for the 1999-2000 school year is based, was 83 and, unfortunately, does not meet the retention requirement for the third teacher in this school.
Staffing schedules are issued on an annual basis outlining the appointment and retention figures for assistant teachers for the following school year. The only exception to this staffing schedule arises where a school qualifies for developing school status. Naul national school would need a minimum projected enrolment at 1 September 1999 of 108 pupils to qualify for such a post. The school should contact the officials in the primary branch of my Department should it envisage such an enrolment.
