Vol. 571 No. 2
251 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Science the hours given for each subject at a second level school (details supplied) in County Leitrim and the concessionary hours given for each subject at the same school. [21419/03]
Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its timetable and subject options having regard to pupils' needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. Apart from meeting the requirements in relation to the provision of the core subjects, the curriculum offered in individual second level schools is a matter for the authorities of the school concerned having regard to its approved teacher allocation.
The rules for allocating teaching resources provide that where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments, my Department will consider applications for additional short-term support i.e. curricular concessions.
The school concerned applied for curricular concessions amounting to 6.18 wholetime equivalent teaching posts for the 2003-04 school year. Following consideration of this application, my Department allocated a curricular concession of 1.36 wholetime equivalent posts to the school to cover shortfalls in the subject areas of French, history, religious education and home economics. The school appealed this allocation to the independent appeals board and was subsequently allocated a further 0.5 wholetime equivalent teaching post.
