Vol. 493 No. 4
178 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if a decision has been made on the appointment in September 1998 of a fourth assistant in a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the strong case made by the chairman of the board of management dated 10 March 1998 to his Department. [16416/98]
As the Deputy may be aware, 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 the school in question, which has been recently confirmed by an Inspector of my Department, on 30 September 1997 was 124 pupils. This enrolment warrants a teaching staff of a principal plus three assistant teachers for the 1998-99 school year.
Therefore, I regret that there is no basis for the appointment of a fourth assistant teacher at the school for the 1998-99 school year.
