Tom Enright
Question:8 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements for the appointment of teachers in rapidly expanding urban and commuter belt areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2825/02]
Other Questions. - School Staffing.
The staffing of a primary school for a particular year is determined by reference to the number of pupils validly enrolled on 30 September of the previous year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule, which is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The staffing schedule is issued to the boards of management of all schools by circular letter. I will arrange for a copy of the current schedule to be forwarded to the Deputy.
A primary school in a developing area may have a significant increase in enrolments which would make the previous September's enrolment inappropriate in determining the staffing. Developing school status accommodates this situation. Where a school can give evidence that it will meet specified increases in numbers it is provisionally allocated an additional post pending experience of its actual enrolments in the new school year.
To obtain an additional post there must be a specified minimum increase in valid enrolments between the two school years. The enrolment increase necessary is determined by the size of the school and a stipulated excess figure above the appointment figure. In the case of schools with fewer than 299 pupils, an additional 25 pupils are required, with an excess of five pupils above the appointment figure. In schools with 299 pupils or more, 30 additional pupils are required, with an excess of ten pupils above the appointment figure.
If the board of management believes the school will achieve the projected increase in enrolment as I have outlined, it may apply to my Department for sanction to appoint an additional teacher in excess of that warranted by the staffing schedule. Boards normally apply in May-June of a particular year for sanction for a post in the following school year. Any additional post granted in response to such an application is conditional on the projected enrolment being achieved.
In the case of a new school at primary level, the board of management may appoint a principal once provisional recognition has been granted by my Department. Additional mainstream teaching staff are granted in accordance with the criteria for developing schools. I have established for the 2002-03 school year a formal independent appeals procedure to consider appeals on mainstream staffing from boards of management of primary schools in accordance with certain criteria. In that context, I have established an independent appeals board to consider appeals. One of the functions of the appeals board shall be to review appeals on the mainstream teaching staff allocation from schools in areas where the population is expanding rapidly. I will be announcing further details regarding the appeals board in the near future.
Additional InformationIt is open to the authorities of existing individual second level schools to apply to my Department for an additional teacher allocation to cater for particular circumstances in the school, including projected increased enrolment. Any additional allocation granted in response to such an application is conditional on the projected enrolment being achieved.
In the case of a greenfield school or a school resulting from the amalgamation of two or more schools, my Department allows the school authorities concerned to appoint the principal of the new school well in advance of the scheduled date of opening of the new school. This enables the new principal to assess the needs of the school and submit an application to my Department for the appropriate staffing resources to cater for those needs. In considering such an application my Department takes account of such matters as the curriculum which is to be offered in the school, the projected enrolment and, in the case of amalgamated schools, the existing teaching resources.
The recruitment and appointment of staff for the new school is a matter in the first instance for the authorities of the school. My Department's decision on the application for teaching resources is notified to the school authorities in sufficient time to ensure they are in a position to make the appropriate arrangements for the recruitment and appointment of staff in advance of the commencement of the school year.
Is the Minister aware of widespread dissatisfaction among parents and teachers at the injustice inflicted on students in rapidly developing suburban commuter belt areas around this city and all the major urban centres throughout the country where schools are exploding at enormous rates? Notwithstanding what the Minister has outlined, they find the provisions to review entitlement to an additional teaching post are failing to take account of the explosion in numbers during the school term. In the light of this fact and notwithstanding what he said, will the Minister review the current situation in order that these schools can access during a school term the appointment of additional teachers to take account of their actual enrolment on any given date?
In exceptional situations a temporary arrangement can be made up to the date set out. In other words, a teacher can be taken on, on a temporary basis, up to that date. This would apply where there is a rapid and major expansion. This is a contentious matter which has been argued for years. A formula is agreed by the education partners, which is where the difficulty lies. Once one puts in place a formula exceptions will arise in different circumstances, which is the reason I want the appeals board to be seen to deal with the issue in an independent manner.
Will the Minister supply me with information at some stage on how many schools are affected in this way? Will he outline the reason it is not possible in May or June of the previous year to decide how many teachers will be required for the following September in order that they can be put in place? Does he realise the hardship and problems this is causing for teachers, students and parents throughout the country? Will he agree it is not good enough to establish more boards, bureaucracy and red tape given it is a simple matter to solve this problem rather than let it drift and drift?
As I said, this has been a problem. For that reason the parties involved came together to decide how to resolve it. They decided, in conjunction with the Department—
That is the Minister's job.
The representatives of the schools and the unions representing them agreed a methodology which can be refined. However, difficulties can occur in some areas. For instance, I have come across a case where Traveller children might not begin school until October. The figures are based on the enrolment in September.
The previous year.
Even of the previous year. One must take it from some point. That is what the education partners agreed. In so far as it can be improved, I will be happy to do so.