Vol. 521 No. 3
168 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give consideration to the issues and concerns raised in the submissions (details supplied) from two disadvantaged national schools in Dublin 7 and 8 who are appalled at the prospect of each losing a teacher. [17049/00]
The staffing of a primary school for a particular year is determined by reference to the number of pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September of the previous year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule. The staffing schedule is determined for a particular year following discussions with the managerial authorities and the Irish National Teachers Organisation.
In relation to the first school mentioned by the Deputy, the current staffing is a principal and three mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 108 pupils as at 30 September 1998. The school also has the services of a disadvantaged concessionary teacher, a remedial teacher, a shared home school liaison teacher, a teacher for non nationals and an amalgamation concessionary teacher. The enrolment as at 30 September 1999, on which the staffing for the 2000-01 school year is based, was 90 pupils, which is sufficient to retain the current staffing into the next school year. The managerial authority of the school has sought the appointment of an additional teacher for non-nationals. The case is currently being examined by my Department and the board will be advised of the position in the near future.
