Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Jun 1998

Vol. 156 No. 1

Adjournment Matters. - Curraghroe (Roscommon) National School.

Mr. Finneran

I am asking for a second teacher to be provided for Curraghroe national school, County Roscommon. This school is in a rural part of north-eastern Roscommon and has 13 pupils at present. Parents, pupils and the teacher at this school fear it will close and they are conscious of Fianna Fáil's election manifesto promise to upgrade one teacher schools to two teacher school status. I am not sure if the cut off point will be lower than the number of pupils in Curraghroe national school. I know the Minister is dealing with demands relating to this matter as well as demands for remedial and resource teachers, and I appreciate his difficulties.

Curraghroe has lost its only shop and its post office in recent years and there are now fears for the national school because a new school with four teachers is to be completed soon some miles away in Clontuskert. Parents may feel facilities are better there and send their children to that school.

If possible, Curraghroe national school should be included in the list of one teacher schools to be provided with a second teacher in 1998-9. If the school does not achieve the magic number of pupils entitling it to a second teacher, the Minister should consider providing remedial teaching services for the area. I understand it is possible that a remedial teacher will be provided in the general area, including Clontuskert and other schools. It has been suggested that the remedial teacher be located at Curraghroe national school. That would indicate to residents in the area that the Department has faith in Curraghroe national school and does not wish it to close. In the next round of teacher allocations, the cut off number of pupils might be lowered, which would allow the school to survive.

That is consequential on the assignment of a remedial teacher to the area, but there are five schools in the region without a remedial teacher and it may be an area the Department is looking at. The Minister should examine the possibility of providing a second teacher in 1998-9 to Curraghroe national school under the proposals to upgrade one teacher schools to two teacher status. If that is impossible, he should in some way indicate the Department's support for Curraghroe national school and the location of a remedial teacher in the school is a way that might be done.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Mr. O'Dea)

I thank Deputy Finneran for affording me the opportunity to speak on the staffing position in Curraghroe national school, County Roscommon. The Senator will be aware that An Action Programme for the Millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in allocating resources, and specifically states that one teacher schools with ten or more pupils will receive a second teacher.

I note that the enrolment for Curraghroe national school has decreased from 14 pupils in September 1996 to 13 pupils in September 1997. Under normal agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools, such enrolment figures would warrant a staffing of a principal teacher only. I am very conscious of the particular difficulties experienced by teachers in one teacher schools and I assure the Senator that I and the Minister for Education and Science are fully committed to achieving the target outlined in An Action Programme for the Millennium whereby all schools with ten or more pupils will receive a second teacher.

A range of options are currently being examined with a view to identifying the most appropriate way to fulfil the commitment to one teacher schools as outlined in that programme. As soon as the most appropriate course of action has been identified the officials of my Department will be requested to examine the situation in Curraghroe national school and to advise the school authorities of the outcome.