Vol. 492 No. 3
79 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to Scoil Náisiúnta Bhriochain, Gort Mór, Rosmuc, Countae na Gaillimhe (details supplied), which is a one teacher school and which had been in expectation of benefiting under his commitment in relation to one teacher schools. [13926/98]
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.
In the context of finalising staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 1998-99 school year, I am examining a range of options with a view to identifying the most appropriate way to fulfil the Government's commitments to one teacher schools as outlined in An Action Programme for the Millennium.
80 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will intervene to allow the retention of the third assistant teacher at Ballyhooly national school, County Cork, where there is a projected enrolment of 91 pupils for September 1998; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the loss of a teacher would result in two of the school classrooms being in breach of the maximum class guidelines; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the school has a special needs pupil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13928/98]
The third teaching post at Ballyhooley national school will be lost at the end of the current school year because the enrolment at the school declined from 94 pupils in September, 1996 to 82 pupils in September, 1997. A minimum enrolment of 87 was required in order to retain the third teaching post.
If the school enrolment increases substantially in September the school management authority should contact my officials with a view to reviewing the matter.
