Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

421 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has considered the application on behalf of St. Mary's School for Deaf Girls and St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys for the release of a teacher to attend the masters degree course in educational psychology in UCD in view of the enormous benefit this would bring to teaching quality in the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5538/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

The provision of psychological services to pupils attending the two schools referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. The specific responsibility for these schools has been assigned to an individual psychologist from NEPS since July 2000 and the post is within the overall approved allocation of psychologist posts within NEPS. The release of a teacher to undergo relevant training is a matter in the first instance for the authorities of the school concerned. My Department generally supports applications for the release of teachers for this purpose.

My Department has received an application on behalf of St. Mary's School for Deaf Girls and St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys for the release of a teacher to attend the masters degree course in educational psychology in UCD. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department will approve the release of a teacher to pursue the course in question.

Denis Naughten

Question:

422 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that all primary schools which form part of the new three year programme for educational opportunities will have the number of teaching staff retained even though the number of pupils may drop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5554/01]

Denis Naughten

Question:

423 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that the teaching complement of a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be maintained in the 2001-2002 school year even though the roll number has dropped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5555/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together.

Schools participating in the new programme are eligible to receive a range of additional supports including teacher posts and financial supports to be targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The additional supports to be provided reflect the level of concentration of pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in each school invited to participate in the programme.

There are separate urban and rural dimensions to the programme. Urban schools with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils will be supported where necessary through the three-year period through staff allocations to implement a maximum class size of 20:1 in junior classes and 29:1 in senior classes.

Rural schools with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils will be allocated the services of a teacher-co-ordinator who will work in clusters of four or five schools. Rural schools that could not be clustered with other similar schools will receive financial supports as an alternative to teacher-co-ordinator support.

All schools participating in the programme will also receive financial support for the delivery of targeted in-school and out-of-school actions. The school referred to by the Deputy is included in the urban dimension of the new programme. The school will receive supplementary grant aid of £3,252 towards providing additional educational supports for the children concerned.

In relation to staffing, the school in question was considered for additional teaching staff but it was deemed that it had sufficient teaching staff already to implement the maximum class size guidelines of 20:1 in junior classes and 29:1 in senior classes in respect of the current school year.

The staffing of 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. 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 INTO. The staffing schedule for primary schools in the 2001-2002 school years has not yet been finalised. As soon as the schedule is finalised a circular will issue to all boards of management. This staffing schedule applies to all primary schools including schools participating in the new programme.

The position with regard to urban schools eligible for additional teaching posts under the programme is that the allocation of new posts is subject to existing enrolment levels being maintained over the three-year period and the implementation of the maximum class sizes. The staffing allocation for these schools, including the school referred to, for the 2001-2002 school year will be based on the enrolment in the school at 30 September 2000 and will be examined in the context of any changes to the staffing schedule for national schools.