Vol. 409 No. 10
69 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to (a) the serious staffing situation which exists at Stonetown national school, County Louth, and (b) the fact that the loss of a further teacher will prevent the remaining staff from coping with the level of students at the school; if she will now review this serious situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware, there is an agreement between the Government and the INTO regarding the staffing of national schools. The staffing for a particular year is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous year.
An Scoil Oilibhéar Beannaighthe had an enrolment of 62 pupils on 30 September 1990, the authorised staffing of the school for 1991-92 school year is principal and one assistant. The second assistant teacher has been placed on the Armagh Diocesan panel for redeployment to another school from 1 September 1991 in accordance with the rules for national schools.
If the school is unable to organise the pupils enrolled in September 1991 to remain within the maximum class size guidelines as set out in Circular 23/88, the board of management should inform my Department and the staffing position will be reviewed.
