Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:390 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department will appoint a second teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20440/97]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
The school to which the Deputy refers is a one teacher school with a current enrolment of 17 pupils. In March 1997, the outgoing Minister for Education agreed staffing arrangements for primary schools for the current school year with the Irish National Teachers Organisation. These agreed arrangements were based on the allocation of all surplus posts available for redistribution from the demographic dividend.
The Deputy will be aware that An Action Programme for the Millennium contains a commitment to give primary education a clear priority in allocating resources. In this context, the programme specifically states that one teacher schools with ten or more pupils will receive a second teacher. I am currently examining a range of options with a view to identifying the most appropriate way to fulfil the Government's commitments to one teacher schools.