Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
265. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangement he plans to put in place to address the urgent need of schools (details supplied) to have a non-teaching principal position in view of the unique circumstances involved; if he will meet a delegation from each school to hear the range of problems being experienced and the need for positive action by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23809/19]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The staffing arrangements for the 2019/20 school year are set out in Circular 0019/2019 which is available on the Department website.
The criteria for the appointment of an administrative principal to a school is set out at Appendix B of Circular 0019/2019. In a similar manner to the staffing allocation, it is the enrolment of the school which determines whether a school is allocated an administrative principal.
In the case of both of the schools referred to by the Deputy, the enrolment requirement is 176 pupils on 30th September 2018. As the schools did not have this enrolment at the time, they do not meet the criteria.
It should also be noted that both schools were advised, at the time of amalgamation, that the amalgamated school would operate from the existing school sites.
