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Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018

Friday, 7 September 2018

Questions (335)

James Browne

Question:

335. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the County Wexford schools with a teaching principal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36545/18]

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Written answers

The Irish education system has certain characteristics that have influenced the evolution of the principal’s role. The distribution of the population necessitates a relatively large number of small primary schools. In the case of principals in smaller schools, while management and administration duties may be smaller in scale than those of larger schools, they must be undertaken in addition to their full-time teaching duties.  

The enrolment required for administrative principal in ordinary schools, gaelscoileanna and schools in the Gaeltacht is 176 pupils, or 113 if operating a specialist autism unit. 

Schools that have less than this enrolment have teaching principals. Recently published Circular 40/2018 is available on the Department’s website, which outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal.

Building on measures in previous budgets to enhance school leadership, Budget 2018 made €0.4 million available to fund almost 4,600 additional release days for teaching principals in primary schools. This additional funding will see an increase in the number of release days available to teaching principals in the 2018/19 school year to 17, 23 or 29 days depending on the size of the school.

While the principal is ultimately responsible to the board of management for the management and leadership of the school, the deputy principal occupies a position of vital importance within the senior leadership team in each school. The deputy principal co-operates with the principal in the fulfilment of the principal's role and acts or deputises as the principal in the principal's absence.

I recently announced an extension to the arrangements for schools with teaching principals to cluster their release days into full-time posts, with one teacher covering the release days of all the schools in the cluster.  Up to 50 principal release cluster posts will be put in place for the 2018/19 school year. This measure will assist teaching principals to more effectively plan their release days for the benefit of the school.

Following is the breakdown of the number of teaching principals in primary schools in Wexford, as requested.

Number of schools with teaching principals:

County:

Number of teaching principals in the 2017/18 school year:

Wexford

59

School Roll Number and name:

Roll No.:

School Name:

05070W

S.N. Baile Muirne

06959G

Clonroche N.S.

09184L

Shielbeggan Convent

10780L

Ballyoughter N.S.

11380A

Caime N.S.

12841P

St Patrick's N.S.

13299E

Glanbrian N.S.

13335F

Court N.S.

13999J

Kilnamanagh N.S.

14492D

Curracloe N.S.

14668O

Ballaghkeene N.S.

14777T

Kilmyshall N.S.

14900P

Gusserane N.S.

14909K

St Leonards N.S.

15177A

Carrigduff N.S.

15354T

Camolin N.S.

15407O

S.N. Baile Thomais

15419V

Oulart N.S.

15937U

Monaseed N.S.

15940J

Tombrack N.S.

15948C

Clologue N.S.

15962T

Ballindaggin N.S.

16072O

Newbawn N.S.

16828U

S.N. Bearna Na h-Aille

16833N

S.N. Cill T-Sile

16992K

Clongeen Mxd N.S.

17117P

S.N. Cul Greine

17194K

S.N. Baile Ui Coileain

17354G

S.N. Padraig

17510R

S.N. Treasa Nfa

17519M

S.N. Caislean Dochraill

Roll No.:

School Name:

17526J

S.N. Abbain

17554O

S.N. Nmh Seosaimh

17610V

S.N. Baile Fada

17612C

St Garvans N.S.

17638U

S.N. Nmh Seosaimh

17656W

S.N. Olibheir Beannuithe

17707N

S.N. Rath An Iubhair

17734Q

S.N. Gallbhaile

17768K

Scoil Ghormáin Naofa

17769M

S.N. Mhuire

17812K

St Marys N.S.

17841R

S.N. Mhuire

17858L

S.N. Coill An Iarainn

18010C

Davidstown Primary School

18133S

Fionntain Naofa N.S.

18191J

S.N. Raithin

18308E

S.N. Moin Na Gcaor

18315B

S.N. Padraig Nfa

18336J

Boolavogue N.S.

18387D

S.N. Catriona Naofa

18687P

Ballyduff N.S.

18714P

St Edans N.S.

18824W

St Iberius N.S.

18839M

S.N. Na Scrine

19528A

Ramsgrange Central N.S.

19741A

Scoil Mhuire

20333P

Wexford ETNS

20458M

New Ross ETNS

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