Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 6

Written Answers - School Staffing.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

157 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has had an opportunity to reconsider the decision of his predecessor to return an assistant in Ballyboughal national school, County Dublin, to the panel in spite of the fact that the numbers on the roll justified the appointment being permanent. [16802/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The staffing of a national school for a particular year is determined by the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year. The enrolment of Ballyboughal national school on 30 September 1996 was 120 pupils. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal and three assistant teachers for the 1997-98 school year.

In addition to the above-mentioned staffing, the school will retain the services of a remedial teacher for the 1997-98 school year. Following consideration of points put to me by other Deputies, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have sanctioned the appointment of a resource teacher to Ballyboughal national school with effect from 1 September 1997.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

158 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science whether the 18th assistant in Scoil an Phápa Eoin Pól II, Mullach Íde, County Dublin, will be retained in view of the fact that the school has the required number on the roll and a porta-cabin classroom has already been financed to accommodate the appointment. [16803/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The staffing of a national school year is determined by the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year.

In March 1997, the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1997-98 school year with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation. These agreed arrangements were based on the allocation of surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend for the 1997-98 school year.

The enrolment of Scoil Eoin Pól II on 30 September 1996 was 522 pupils. This enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal and 17 assistant teachers for the 1997-98 school year, an increase of one assistant teacher on the previous year's staffing.

It appears that the managerial authorities of the school appointed a teacher to the 18th assistant's post in the expectation that the school would qualify for the post under developing school criteria with effect from 1 September 1997. This appointment was made without the prior sanction of my Department.

I have asked officials of my Department to reexamine this case as a matter of urgency.