Vol. 395 No. 3
188 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Education, in light of new statistical evidence submitted to her Department which includes the understaffing of Scoil Íosagáin Primary School, Aughavannagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, if it is her intention to accede to the school principal's request for additional staff.
The staffing of national schools is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with the agreement on staffing made between the Government and the INTO under the Programme for National Recovery. In the case of Scoil Íosagáin national school there were 273 pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September 1988 which warrants a staff of principal plus seven assistants for the 1989-90 school year. The school also has the services of a full time remedial teacher and an additional assistant teaching post under the special scheme of teaching assistance for schools serving disadvantaged areas.
The only exceptions that can be made from the agreed staffing arrangements is in the case of developing schools or where my Department's guidelines on maximum class sizes would be breached. Scoil Íosagáin national school does not meet the criteria necessary to qualify under either of these exceptions. Therefore, the appointment of an additional assistant teacher is not warranted for the 1989-90 school year.
The appointment of an additional assistant to the school for the 1990-91 school year with effect from 1 September 1990 is warranted by the enrolment on 30 September 1989.
