Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Questions (299)

John Perry

Question:

479 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science when an extra mainstream class teacher will be appointed on development grounds in a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no State funding is required for building purposes, in view of the fact that the school has a classroom available at present to accommodate the teacher appointed; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the trends projected indicate it would hold a fourth teacher, in view of the fact that the academic year 2004-05 the school will have 84 pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22072/04]

Written answers

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

The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. The staffing schedule is structured to ensure that all primary schools will operate to an average mainstream class size of 29 pupils. School authorities should ensure that there is an equitable distribution of pupils in mainstream classes and that the differential between the largest and the smallest classes is kept to a minimum.

The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the current school year is a principal and 2 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 77 pupils on 30 September, 2003. The board of management of the school applied for a developing schools post. However, as the projected enrolment did not meet with the criteria required for developing school status, the application was turned down.

It is open to the board of management of a primary school to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeals board which has been established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Details of the criteria and application date for appeal were issued to all primary schools in April, 2004.