asked the Minister for Education the reason she has refused to sanction a permanent whole time teacher of commerce as requested by the Town of Wexford Vocational Education Committee.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wexford VEC Commerce Teacher.
7.
My Department did not sanction the creation of a permanent whole time teacher of commerce post as proposed by the town of Wexford Vocational Education Committee because they were not satisfied that the creation of such a post was justified in the circumstances. This decision was arrived at following consideration of all relevant factors such as enrolment trends and the present ratio of permanent whole time teaching staff to other teaching staff in the scheme.
Enrolment trends in the town of Wexford VEC show that junior and senior cycle enrolments have declined from 571 in September 1987 to 553 in September 1988 and 507 in September 1989. I am aware that VPT enrolments have increased by 30 since September 1988 but any additional appointments generated by increased VTP numbers are required to be of a temporary or part-time nature in accordance with the regulations.
Would the Minister accept that the present enrolment in the town of Wexford vocational school fully justifies the appointment, in accordance with the guidelines issued by her Department, and that the non-sanction of this appointment puts at risk a highly innovative programme on information technology which is in jeopardy because of the lack of a permanent full-time teacher of commerce? The view in Wexford is that because of her plans to abolish the town of Wexford VEC she wants to equate the enrolment figures in Wexford town with those in the rest of the county.
I do not know what the Deputy means by equating. The Deputy's supplementary question refers to enrolment trends. The town of Wexford VEC have one school and enrolments have declined from 571 in September 1987 to 507 in September 1989. I am aware that there has been an increase in the VTP enrolment but by regulation additional appointments accruing under the VTP fall to be filled in a temporary or part-time capacity. The Deputy raised the matter of the information technology programme and I will certainly undertake to look into that matter since I would not like to see any danger to the programme.
I welcome the Minister's undertaking to re-examine this matter. The question I put related not to trends but to the current position. I would ask the Minister to state that the present enrolment justifies fully the permanent appointment requested by the town of Wexford VEC.
No, the present enrolment does not justify it but I am prepared to look at the content of the course of which the Deputy spoke in the light of that.