Deputy Finucane has given notice of his intention to raise the need for the appointment of a full time principal at a school, details supplied. The Deputy has five minutes.
Adjournment Debate. - Teacher Appointments.
I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this matter. Courtenay boys' primary school, Newcastle West, has 193 pupils on its roll. It has 11 teachers and a teaching principal. Along with its eight mainstream classes it has three special classes, a resource teacher and a remedial teacher. From 2 May it will also have a class for those with a specific speech and language disorder. The teaching principal of the school, Bega Ryan, does an excellent job. Together with coping as a remedial teacher she is involved in a multiplicity of other duties as principal. She is coping with a situation where, because of the social mix in the school, she is preparing pupils for the top post-primary schools and also has to liaise with school attendance officers.
Recently I was approached by a group of teachers from the school who are concerned because of the excessive demands on the teaching principal. They felt I should raise the matter in the House. They outlined their frustration that the Department did not recognise the unique position that prevails in the school and the pressures their teaching principal was under. They stated she deserved to be a full-time administrative principal because of the demands of the job. The day for this principal usually begins at 8.30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. She must also attend school related night meetings. I am aware the INTO discussed this matter with the Department of Education and Science and feel there is justification in Bega Ryan being appointed as a full-time administrative principal.
I am aware there is one other school where a similar position exists. On 11 November 1998, because of the frustration of all concerned, the teachers with the backup of parents, picketed the school in Newcastle West. This is surely symptomatic of the frustration of all concerned at the inactivity of the Department of Education and Science in not recognising that the teaching principal should be a full time administrative principal of the school.
I implore the Minister to bring this unjust saga to an end by recognising the uniqueness and justification of the case and to confirm that the principal will be a full-time administrative principal. It is time to end the intolerable and unfair burden on this principal. I look forward to a favourable response.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the Deputy on the appointment of an administrative principal at Courtenay national school. The Deputy is no doubt aware that the staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September in the previous year. The enrolment of Courtenay national school on 30 September 1999 was 192 pupils, including pupils being taught in special classes for Travellers. I understand that the school has a staffing of principal, six main stream class teachers, one remedial teacher and five special class teachers in the current school year.
I take this opportunity to outline the position with regard to the appointment of administrative principals in primary schools. In the current school year, administrative principals are appointed to ordinary primary schools with eight mainstream class teachers. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, for the 2000-01 school year, the Minister for Education and Science has approved the appointment of administrative principals to ordinary primary schools with principal plus seven mainstream class teachers. He recently gave a commitment to deliver the most comprehensive and concentrated package of supports ever to primary school principals over the period of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. These supports include the release from full-time teaching duties of principals with six mainstream class teachers, the approval of release time for principals of smaller schools to attend to non-teaching duties and enhanced secretarial and caretaking services for schools.
This package is further evidence of the Government's commitment to primary education and to the appreciation of the role of our primary school principals. The Minister is aware that there is a number of schools, including the one referred to by Deputy Finucane, where there are a number of ex quota posts for special classes and where there are fewer than seven mainstream class teachers. He is examining, in the context of the distribution of the teaching posts arising from the allocation of the demographic dividend this year, the possibility of the appointment of administrative principals to primary schools with a large number of ex quota teaching posts. The case of Courtenay national school is being considered in that context and the Department of Education and Science will advise the board of management of the position in the near future.
I am aware of Deputy Finucane's strong interest in this case. He has made a compelling case and I assure him that I will use my best endeavours to ensure a successful outcome.
I thank the Minister.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.20 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 20 April 2000.