The Deputy has six minutes in which to make her case and the Minister has three minutes to reply.
Adjournment Debate. - Clare National School Appointment.
I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity to raise this very serious matter on the Adjournment this evening. It concerns the non-appointment of a permanent teacher at Clohanbeg national school in County Clare. Last Thursday I tabled a written question to the Minister asking her the reason (a) a school — Clohanbeg national school — in County Clare had been discriminated against in relation to the appointment of a permanent assistant teacher (b) the reason a letter issued from her Department on 10 August, 1987 sanctioning a temporary appointment and not a permanent appointment given that rule 88 had been complied with in this school and (c) if she would make a permanent appointment forthwith to the school in question.
I was extremely dissatisfied with the response I got to that question. I got a very vague answer and the specific points put were not answered. I am now asking the Minister to tell me why, in June 1987, a permanent teacher was not appointed to Clohanbeg national school given that rule 88 had been complied with and that 33 pupils were in that school for the requisite period. I should like to know why it took until 10 August for a letter to issue from the Minister's Department saying that the temporary teacher might be sanctioned at that time. The result was that the manager did not know whether he could appoint a permanent teacher. That was followed by another letter on 21 September stating that a teacher could not be appointed unless the number at the school on the date of receipt of that letter, that was 21 September, was 33.
The Minister knows the rules of her Department and she knows that her Department have acted in total contravention to the rules set down by her Department. The position is that a permanent appointment should have been made in June 1987. In the Minister's reply last week she stated that the reason for the temporary appointment of an assistant teacher, was authorised in the Department's letter of 10 August, was that an investigation was being made into a possible rearrangement of the education facilities in the area, that the temporary nature of the appointment was in accordance with official practice in cases of this kind. I put to the Minister that this is not in accordance with official practice in cases of this kind because the letter which issued from her Department on 22 October stated that it was a special concession to allow a temporary teacher to be appointed and that that appointment would be made only up to the date of the Christmas holidays. In those circumstances the Minister should have appointed the temporary teacher up to June 1988 and in the event of amalgamation not taking place by that date, that position should become permanent. There is an onus on the Minister to explain to the House why there has been such irregular activity in relation to the entire debacle of the lack of appointment of a permanent teacher to Clohanbeg national school. I am asking the Minister to issue a letter tomorrow morning to the manager allowing him to make a permanent appointment to this school.
Clohanbeg national school has been in existence since 1889, has a very fine educational record and has been fortunate to have had some excellent teachers. The present teacher, who is in charge of this one teacher school is an extremely hard worker and is highly appreciated by the parents. The extent of her extra curricular activities is quite phenomenal. For instance, she teaches traditional music to the children after normal school hours and the pupils have won prizes in that respect throughout the country. It is most unfortunate that the teachers, parents and the pupils of this area have been treated in such a disgraceful manner.
I am sure that the Minister up to now has not been fully aware of the finer details in this matter. Now that the Minister is aware of the situation and that there are 33 pupils on the role since 3 November, a new family having moved into the area — I am confident that the prospects for 1989 and 1990 are exceptionally good. There are a number of two and three year old children in the area who would be on stream to be enroled in the school. Many young couples have settled down in the area so the future of Clohanbeg national school can go from strength to strength from now on. In the final analysis the matter rests with the Minister to make the permanent appointment and I am requesting her to do so this evening.
I thank Deputy Taylor-Quinn for raising the issue. From what the Deputy has told me here tonight about young couples settling in the neighbourhood the future of Clohanbeg looks fruitful.
It is necessary to explain at the outset that the difficulties experienced recently by Clohanbeg national school with regard to the appointment of a teacher arose, as the Deputy is aware, from the small size of the school. Indeed, looking back through the records for the last number of years this question was looked at several times very keenly and with great scrutiny in the Department of Education under the previous two Ministers. There are only 30 pupils enrolled. At the school though the Deputy informs me how that since 6 November there are 33.
Since 3 November.
I accept that if the Deputy says so but they have not yet been informed in the Department. In Clohanbeg national school and in the other school, Cree, there are at different days and at different times great reports of variance of pupil attendance. Officially 30 pupils are enrolled in the records of the Department. They have not yet been told about the three extra pupils.
The school comes within the purview of my Department's policy of centralising smaller schools. In stating that this is a policy I do not lay claim to it. It was introduced in 1966 and has been pursued by all Ministers since then and in the case of this particular school pursued with great vigour under the Deputy's own administration. Examples of suitable opportunities to explore the possibilities of amalgamating in all areas in small schools often come up. It is not unusual for my Department to respond to an application for sanction of an appointment of a teacher to an established post or to a new post by allowing an appointment, on a temporary basis, so as to allow time to examine the feasibility of looking at one school and another school in the neighbourhood of similar numbers to see what can be worked out. In that case the services of the temporary teacher would be accepted only until the further investigation was carried out. In some cases it could happen that pupil numbers would — even after both places had been looked at — be sufficient to absorb the temporary teacher.
I am sorry for rushing, a Cheann Comhairle, but I want to get to the point of the question which was asked. The point I wish to stress is that sanctioning a temporary appointment is no more than a holding operation to which undue significance should not be attached. I should like to state that it should not be taken as an irrevocable notice of closure because any process of amalgamation — I say this to allay the Deputy's fears — would have to include full consultation, were it to happen, with boards of management, teachers and parents concerned.
Deputy Taylor-Quinn is aware that the establishment of a new teaching post is conditional on the attainment of a specified average enrolment for two successive quarters. Compliance with this condition is not tantamount to an entitlement to proceed with the permanent appointment. The relevant rule for national schools requires school managers to submit all proposed appointments to the Department for approval. If a manager appoints a teacher without prior official approval the Minister may refuse payment of salary for any service given by such teacher. It follows that official ministerial approval of an appointment may be dependent on the fulfilment of certain conditions, one of which would be that the appointment would be provisional or temporary.
I would be very surprised if the authorities of Clohanbeg national school claimed to have been totally taken aback by or were unaware of the possibility of talks and of a review of their whole situation. As the Deputy is aware it was until recently a one teacher school. The amalgamation policy would be well known in the area from the experience of other schools there. It was being looked at in the light of the neighbouring school of Cree and was proposed to the board of management in 1978. While the eventual decisions were not proceeded with at that time the possibility was always there of raising the question and this was done during the time of the previous Government.
The recent history of the school began on 5 June 1987 when the appointment of a second teacher for the following September was sought. The school had then 33 pupils. It was noted that Cree which had a staff of two teachers had 36 pupils. To create a fourth teaching post for so few pupils, without further investigation, would have been irresponsible. It was also necessary to ascertain the shifts in the balance of enrolments between the two schools. After reading the records of both schools, which I got out tonight, I am slightly confused as to the way in which the two seem to interact and interchange so much. I do know whether the increase in enrolments in Clohanbeg national school can be maintained or whether, if it could be maintained, it could adversely affect the welfare of Cree national school, possibly to the extent of bringing about the suppression of a post there. I should like to ask the Deputy how many miles are the schools distant from one another?
Four miles.
They are very near.
The investigation necessitated a request to the district inspector for a full report. It was necessary for him to examine the records of both schools — I say that very clearly to the Deputy — to obtain information which would clarify the issues to which I have referred. This was not possible during the closure of the school for the summer holidays. In the meantime approval to proceed with the temporary appointment was conveyed to the manager. When the inspector's report was received it transpired that the enrolment had reduced to 30 pupils in September and that the projected enrolment given by the management authorities at that time for September 1988 was no more than 29. The number required for the creation of an extra post——
I am sorry to interrupt the Minister but the time for the Adjournment has expired.
The manager was informed that as an exceptional arrangement the appointment would be authorised if he so desired to a date not later than the closure of the school for the Christmas vacation in 1987. I am glad to inform the Deputy that the appointment will be sanctioned until June 1988.
The Dáil adjourned at 11 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 December 1987.