Vol. 535 No. 1
603 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Science if the 21 teaching posts allocated to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12 are designated as primary teacher posts or secondary teacher posts; the breakdown of the division; the basis of this breakdown; and the person who decided on the designation of these posts. [11415/01]
The school referred to by the Deputy is a special school for pupils with mild general learning disability. In common with all special schools, the school in question is classified as a primary school.
The basic staffing allocation to the school in question reflects the pupil-teacher ratio of 11:1 applicable to schools catering for children with a mild general learning disability. In addition, in order to address the particular educational needs of pupils of second level age attending the school, it is allocated a range of part-time teaching hours in areas such as arts and crafts, computer studies, home economics, physical education and woodwork.
In accordance with circular 25/00, my Department will grant restricted recognition to teachers with a recognised post-primary qualification to enable them to teach in special schools where a proportion of the pupils attending the school are of post-primary age and where second level programmes are being provided by the school. This facility is available to the school in question.
Officials of my Department have had discussions with the principal of the school in question on the possibility of adjusting current arrangements at the school to give greater recognition to the second level dimension of its activities. My Department is currently examining possibilities in this regard.
