Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

293 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if is attention has been drawn to the fact that 70% of the enrolment in Our Lady of Fatima Special School, Wexford are secondary school age; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that 14 students in the 17-18 age cohort are to sit junior certificate home economics in June 2001 but have been without home economics tuition since 2000; his views on whether these students are entitled to home economics tuition on a par with that provided to mainstream secondary school students; if he will sanction the appointment of a full-time home economics teacher for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3937/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The school in question caters for pupils with a mild general learning disability and is entitled to a general staffing allocation based on a pupil teacher ratio of 11:1. I understand the school currently has an enrolment of 106 pupils and a staffing level of principal and 12 teaching assistants.

In addition, the school in question has for some years been allocated annual funding to employ a domestic science teacher for nine hours per week. It is a matter for the school's board of management to employ a suitably qualified teacher to deliver this service. My Department recently received correspondence from the school indicating that there are 12 pupils due to sit home economics in the junior certificate examination in June, 2001. Arising from this correspondence, my Department's inspectorate recently reviewed the school's allocation of home economics support. I understand that as a result of this review it was decided to increase the school's home economics teaching allocation from nine to ten hours per week. The school authorities, who were notified of this allocation in January of this year, should now proceed to employ a suitably qualified teacher to deliver the service.