Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 May 2000

Vol. 520 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Accommodation.

Willie Penrose

Question:

386 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is inadequate accommodation available in a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath to enrol all the children who wish to be enrolled from its catchment area in September 2000, and that this is the position despite additional accommodation having been provided recently; his views on the fact that the growth in the number of pupils seeking to enrol necessitates the appointment of an additional teacher as well as further accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15140/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department is not aware of any anticipated accommodation difficulties at the school in question in the coming school year.

The general position in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy is that the staffing for a primary school for a particular year is determined by reference to the number of pupils enrolled in the school on the 30 September of the previous year. On 30 September 2000 the enrolment at the school in question was 234 pupils. Under the current staffing schedule, this enrolment gives the school an entitlement to a principal and eight assistants for the 2000-01 school year. This represents no change from its 1999-2000 complement and the accommodation recently provided caters for this number of teachers.

However, if the board of management of the school anticipates that the overall enrolment of the school on 30 September 2000 will qualify under the terms of circular 11/00 for a teaching post on the basis of developing school status, they may apply for such a post to the primary payments section of my Department in Athlone.

If a requirement for an additional classroom arises on foot of such an appointment, the board of management should, with the approval of the patron, bring this matter to the attention of the planning section of my Department in Tullamore.