Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
354 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if a project (details supplied) in County Kildare is fully staffed to meet the requirements of its new eight classroom school building including double autistic unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26371/04]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners.
The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the current school year is a principal and nine mainstream class teachers based on the enrolment of 250 pupils on 30 September 2003. The school also has access to two full-time and one part-time resource teachers and a shared learning support teacher.
With regard to provision for children with autism, I can confirm that my Department wrote to the school authorities on 15 April 2004 advising them of my Department's willingness to establish two special classes for such children on receipt of a formal application from the board of management. The matter was further discussed at a meeting between school representatives and Department officials in June last. My understanding of the outcome of that meeting is that the points raised were to have been taken up by the school representatives with the board of management with a view to making further contact with my Department.
