asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of pupils attending Harold Boys national school, St. Patrick's Road, Dalkey, County Dublin, justify the appointment of a fourth teacher; and if she will bring forward the appointment of the fourth teacher to January, 1990.
Written Answers. - Dalkey (County Dublin) School.
268.
The staffing of national schools in a particular school year is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with the agreement reached between the Government and the INTO under the Programme for National Recovery. In the case of Harold Boy's NS, there were 85 pupils enrolled on 30 September 1988 which warrants a staff of principal plus two assistants for the 1989-90 school year.
The only exceptions that can be made from the agreed staffing arrangements are in the case of developing schools or where my Department's guidelines on maximum class sizes would be breached. Harold Boy's NS does not meet the criteria necessary to qualify under either exception, therefore the appointment of an additional assistant in the school is not warranted.