Vol. 563 No. 1
327 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will examine and review the circumstances whereby a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was sanctioned in August 2002 by his Department for the appointment of a substitute teacher and had this sanction withdrawn on 25 November 2002 causing severe restriction on curricular choice and other difficulties to this school in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7050/03]
A school may appoint teachers within the limit of its approved teaching post allocation. It may also engage substitute teachers in respect of teachers, within its approved teacher allocation, who are absent on approved leave. School management is required to manage its curriculum and staff timetables within its approved staffing limits. In addition to its normal allocation for the 2002-3 school year, the school referred to by the Deputy was granted 1.82 extra wholetime equiv alent teaching posts to meet particular curricular needs and was also allowed to retain four surplus teaching posts on an over quota basis. In the particular situation referred to by the Deputy, it was found that recoupment was claimed by the school in respect of a substitute teacher who was employed outside the approved teacher allocation for 2002-3. The overclaimed recoupment was recovered by my Department.
