asked the Minister for Education if she accepts that pupils in one teacher primary schools with school attendance ranging from 20 to 35 pupils in each can be given the standard of primary education to which they have a statutory right; and, if not, the steps she proposes to take to remedy this injustice to both pupils and teachers.
Written Answers. - One Teacher Primary Schools.
50.
The rules for national schools set out the basis on which the State meets the (constitutional) requirements in relation to provision for primary education. The staffing of primary schools is determined in accordance with Schedule XVII of these rules which is revised from time to time. Under the current schedule a school requires an enrolment of 34 pupils for the appointment and 29 pupils for the retention of a first assistant.
Under the revised schedule to come into effect on 1 September 1990 those enrolment requirements will be reduced to 33 and 28 pupils respectively.
The latest schedules were negotiated by the Government with the INTO under the Programme for National Recovery and I am satisfied that within the available resources they meet the (constitutional) requirements in the State to provide for primary education.