Vol. 522 No. 2
487 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm the appointment of a second teacher for a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo will proceed, in view of the fact that it was announced and sanctioned on 11 June 2000 and has since been suppressed, thereby creating a one-teacher school in total contradiction of Government policy of 1999 that no more one teacher schools will be created. [18328/00]
As the Deputy is aware the staffing of primary schools is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between this Department and the education partners.
The retention figure for the first mainstream class teacher in national schools for the 2000-01 school year has been reduced from 14 pupils to 12 pupils.
The enrolment at the school in question has fallen to six pupils on 30 September 1999. This enrolment is well below the retention figure for the first mainstream class teacher at the school for the 2000-01 school year, and in the circumstances the appointment of a second teacher cannot be sanctioned.
