Vol. 522 No. 4
286 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that will lose teachers by the application of the pupil-teacher ratio; and the number of schools for each county and each Dublin postal district. [19045/00]
The staffing allocation to schools for a particular school year is determined by the enrolment at the end of September of the preceding year.
The teaching posts arising from the demographic dividend are being retained for the 2000-01 school year. These posts are being used to reduce the threshold for the appointment of administrative principals. The retention of the posts has also enabled me to implement improvements in the appointment and retention figures at certain points in the staffing schedule.
I regret that the staffing resources necessary to compile the information as requested by the Deputy are not available.
287 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools in communities served by area partnerships that will lose teachers under the application of the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he has satisfied himself that his Department has met its obligations under the national anti-poverty strategy. [19046/00]
295 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if, pending the current Government review of the national drugs strategy, he will defer the loss of teachers in national schools in drugs task force areas. [19056/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 295 together.
288 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which principals, parents and teachers can make submissions to his Department regarding the impact a loss in teachers under the application of the pupil-teacher ratio will have on their work with the most disadvantaged communities; and if he will give special consideration to such submissions. [19047/00]
It is open to a principal, a parent or a teacher to forward correspondence concerning the loss of a teaching post for my personal attention or for the attention of officials of my Department. The contents of all such correspondence are examined in my Department.
289 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if an inspector of his Department will visit each school in the Dáil constituency of Dublin South Central that will lose teachers under the application of the pupil-teacher ratio so that his Department can be fully informed on the impact the loss will mean for schools dealing with some of the poorest families. [19048/00]
I regret that, owing to my heavy work schedule and the work commitments of my officials, it is not possible to arrange visits to the schools in the constituency of Dublin South Central as proposed by the Deputy.
I can assure the Deputy that I fully appreciate the impact that the loss of a teaching post can have on a school. In that context I would remind the Deputy that I have implemented further improvements in the staffing schedule this year. As a consequence of these improvements many schools, which otherwise would have lost teaching posts, were enabled to retain their existing staffing levels. In addition, several schools gained entitlement to additional teaching posts. However, despite these improvements, the fall in enrolments in some schools was such that they were unable to benefit from the improvements in the staffing schedule.
I should add that I have set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority and will shortly be bringing forward proposals for a major initiative to address the needs of pupils who are encountering educational disadvantage in the primary system. I am currently finalising a new £194 million three year programme to address educational disadvantage by allocating significant financial and personnel resources to schools with at risk pupils.
