asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that a person (name supplied) claims to have been principal of a school (name supplied) in County Kerry, although not appointed as such by the manager who denies the appointment; if this teacher was in fact appointed principal in mid-August by his Department; if so, on what precedent or authority; and if his Department recognises and recognised the appointments made by the manager when the boys and girls national schools were amalgamated on 1st July, 1967.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry School Principal.
43.
Mr. O'Malley
The principal teacher in a girls' school, in Kerry, retired on 30th June, 1967. My Department proposed that the boys' and girls' schools be amalgamated from 1st July, 1967, in the educational interests of the children concerned. Whilst agreeing with my Department's proposal, the Reverend Manager pointed out that the assistant teacher in the girls' school would suffer financial loss by reason of the fact that she would, normally, have been appointed as principal teacher in the girls' school from 1st July, 1967.
In deference to the Manager's representations amalgamation was postponed to 1st October, 1967, and the assistant in question was recognised as principal of the girls' school from 1st July, 1967 to 30th September, 1967, and as privileged assistant in the amalgamated school from 1st October, 1967.
Why did the Minister ride roughshod, if you like, over the manager on the first occasion the Reverend Manager made this appointment? How did it happen that a certain lady who was first assistant to the principal went down the line to second place? Could that be explained to me?
Mr. O'Malley
I think my answer covered this.
Am I to take it that the Minister's reply makes everything clear?