Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

John Perry

Question:

384 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools in County Sligo which form part of the new three year programme for educational opportunities; the steps which have been put in place to ensure that the number of teaching staff will be retained even though the number or pupils may drop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6831/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

Schools participating in the new programme, Giving Children An Even Break, 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. In County Sligo, 45 schools have been invited to participate in the new 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/coordinator 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 activities.

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 INTO. The staffing schedule for primary schools in the 2001-02 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 will apply 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 for the 2001-02 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.