Michael Ring
Ceist:155 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of pupils on the roll in a national school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the number of teachers this will entitle them to. [21773/97]
Written Answers. - School Closures.
Michael Ring
Ceist:156 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to replace a teacher in a national school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [21774/97]
Michael Ring
Ceist:157 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo is scheduled for closure; if so, the reason for this; and whether this decision can be reversed. [21775/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 156 and 157 together.
The enrolment of the school, to which the Deputy refers, on 30 September 1996 was 15 pupils. That enrolment warrants a staffing of a principal teacher only in the current school year. The current enrolment in the school is 14.
As yet, no decisions have been made regarding the staffing allocations for primary schools for the 1998-99 school year.
The former principal teacher at the school recently resigned. Pending negotiations at local level regarding the future of the school, my Department has sanctioned the appointment of a temporary teacher to replace the former principal.
The planning section of my Department considered that the educational interests of the pupils would be best served by closing the school and transferring the pupils to another school in the parish. This proposal was put to the chairperson of the board of management of the school, in mid-November. Responses received this week indicate that the patron, board and parents, are agreeable to the proposal provided that suitable transport arrangements can be put in place. This question is now being examined in my Department.