Vol. 512 No. 3
303 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will implement the recommendations of the recently published report of the group on primary school principals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25934/99]
The report of the working group which I set up last year to examine the rights, roles, duties and responsibilities of principals in primary schools was recently presented to me.
There is, of course, already a range of supports in place to assist principals in carrying out their functions. The middle management structures in schools which have been developed in recent years enable the principal to delegate a number of functions to other teachers. In particular, many schools have access to secretarial and caretaking services, and I have recently announced substantial improvements in the level of assistance in these areas.
In recognition of the need to improve the funding of secretaries and caretakers I have recently announced that an additional £2.7 million has been made available to extend support to another 650 schools with a total enrolment of 90,000 children in the coming year. The Deputy will also be aware that I have secured an additional £9 million in the recent budget which will enable me to extend and improve the supports available to all primary schools. Details of the implementation of this will be worked out in the near future following consultations and will, when taken together with the earlier move, make a major contribution to assisting schools and principals.
There are various recommendations which impact on the terms and conditions of teachers which should, as envisaged in the report be pursued through the relevant industrial relations machinery, particularly as cross-sectoral impacts must be considered.
I recognise the need for further supports for our primary schools and for principals in carrying out their roles. However, these can only be introduced in the context of the full range of issues facing primary education and normal industrial relations procedures. I have recently held discussions on these.
304 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to provide a resource teacher for Holy Cross Mercy national school, Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25959/99]
My Department has received an application for resource teaching support from the school in question. My Department's inspectorate has been asked to forward a report on the special educational needs of pupils enrolled in the school.
I have asked that consideration of this matter be expedited and that the case put forward by the school be responded to as speedily as possible.
305 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has considered the appli cation for a full-time remedial teacher for St. Vincent de Paul infants' school, Marino, Dublin 9; when he will be allocating remedial teachers; and if this school fits into the priority system he will use for allocating these teachers. [25960/99]
The Deputy will be aware that I recently extended the remedial teacher service to every first and second-level school in the country with a pupil teacher ratio of 10:1 or more. My priority was to ensure that all such schools who were without a remedial teaching service would have access to one with effect from September 1999.
The school in question currently has a remedial teacher service on a shared basis with an adjacent school.
I assure the Deputy that the remedial needs of the school to which he refers will be taken fully into account in the event of additional resources becoming available to improve existing remedial services.
