Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
308 Mr. Eoin Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation in relation to a school in the Dublin 4 area (details supplied); if any applications were made by this school to his Department for grant aid for school buildings, renovations, extra teachers and so on, in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5985/04]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application to my Department for refurbishment works to the school building in 2002. As rationalisation talks with the trustees of the school were ongoing at that time and consistent with standard policy, the application for funding was not approved pending the outcome of the rationalisation negotiations.
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 time-table and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.
The rules for allocating teacher resources provide that where a school management authority is unable to meets its commitments, my Department will consider applications for additional support i.e. curricular concessions, additional allocation for special needs, additional allocation for traveller and non national pupils.
In the last five years the school in question has received additional allocations as follows: 1999/00, 1.36 wholetime teacher equivalent; 2000/01, 1.36 wholetime teacher equivalent; 2001/02, 1.67 wholetime teacher equivalent; 2002/03, 1.97 wholetime teacher equivalent; 2003/04, 3.17 wholetime teacher equivalent.
