Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

299 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a special school (details supplied) in Dublin 4 has been without a permanent principal teacher for the past seven months, that the school is proposing to discontinue school meals for children with special needs without consultation with the parents association and that this may have added to the difficulty in attracting applications including any from the current staff; if the schools inspectorate will make services available to the board of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

The recruitment of a principal teacher is the responsibility of the school's board of management. My Department is not aware of any difficulties being experienced by the school in this regard, but I will arrange for my officials to contact the school to discuss the matter. The school meal scheme is administered by some local authorities. My Department has no role to play in regard to the scheme. It is open to the parents' association to raise any concerns they may have about the scheme's operation through the parent representatives on the board of management. The board of management might clarify the nature of services sought from the schools inspectorate.