Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 4

Written Answers. - County Kildare Teacher Appointment.

Alan M. Dukes

Ceist:

107 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Education if she will accede to a request from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for a concessionary teacher to be appointed from September 1994 in view of the fact that the school authorities have submitted compelling grounds to her Department for such an appointment to be made.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I am aware that the school in question has applied for a concessionary teaching post under the disadvantaged areas scheme and that the school has expressed concern at the possible loss of a teaching post due to falling enrolments.

As I recently announced in the context of the 1994 education budget, I intend that a further 50 primary schools will be designated as disadvantaged for capitation grant purpose in the current year. I am also allocating an additional 150 teaching posts in the current year to improve staffing levels in the primary sector.

Schools will be selected for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas scheme on the basis of priority of need as reflected by a range of socio-economic indicators. Factors taken into account include the incidence of unemployment, local authority housing and medical card holders among the parents of the children concerned. Account is also taken of the views of the Department's inspectorate on the relative levels of need between applicant schools.

The position of the school in question will be considered in the context of the proposed extension of the disadvantaged areas scheme.

With regard to concerns at a possible loss of teaching staff due to falling enrolments, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that following recently introduced improvements in the 1994-95 staffing schedule, the school in question will be retaining its full staffing complement.