Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
473 Mr. Ó Fearghail asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances in which an additional teacher was allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the nature of the short-term contract offered to this teacher; and if it was her Department or the board of management which determined the duration of the contract offered. [29047/04]
View answerThe 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. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The only deviation from the agreed staffing arrangements is in the case of schools classified as developing schools. The conditions for obtaining a post as a developing school are outlined in primary circular 03/04, a copy of which issued to the board of management of each school.
The enrolment of the school referred to by the Deputy on 30 September 2003 was 72 pupils, which warrants a staffing of a principal and two mainstream class teachers for the 2004-05 school year. The enrolment required on 30 September 2004 to obtain a post as a developing school was 97. The board of management projected that an enrolment of 98 pupils would be achieved by that date and on this basis provisional sanction for the appointment of three mainstream class teacher was given in a letter to the board on 14 July 2004. According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management, the enrolment on 30 September 2004 was 84 pupils which is well below the required figure. Sanction for the third mainstream post was withdrawn.
To ensure transparency and openness in the system, an independent staffing appeals board is now in place to decide on any appeals on mainstream staffing. The staffing of the school in question for the 2004-05 school year was considered by the appeals board on 21 October 2004. The board rejected the appeal and the board of management of the school was notified accordingly. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent appeals board.
The appointment of teachers in primary schools is a matter in the first instance for the board of management of the school concerned. My Department's position is that, as far as possible, only fully qualified teachers should be appointed. In this specific case, the board of management appointed a person to the third mainstream post for the month of September initially. At the request of the board, my Department agreed to the retention of the post for a further period beyond 30 September pending the outcome of the appeal to the staffing appeals board.
