Vol. 437 No. 6
615 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education if it is her Department's policy to withhold the full staffing requirement of permanent teachers in community and comprehensive schools even where these schools have the requisite numbers to warrant the appointment of permanent teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The staffing approved in any one year is expressed in whole-time teacher equivalent units. While the greater part of the staffing allocation is used to make permanent whole-time appointments, some of the allocation may be used only to make temporary or part-time appointments. This is necessary to give school managements the flexibility they need to plan their programmes and to cater for the broad range of subjects offered. It is also necessary to take account of the effect on the annual staffing allocation of short term fluctuation in student numbers.
Consequently, the authorities of community and comprehensive schools may not fill a teaching post in a permanent capacity without the prior approval of my Department. My Department, when considering applications for sanction to make permanent appointments, takes account of the curricular needs of the school, the flexibility required to meet these needs, the approved teacher allocation, the number of permanent teachers already on the staff and the enrolment trends.
