Vol. 495 No. 7
735 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science whether two inner city schools, Plás Mhuire and the Central Model school have applied to his Department for additional assistance, in view of the impact of the recent loss of a teacher on class size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21743/98]
Representations have been received from the two schools in question regarding their current staffing allocations.
The staffing of primary schools is determined by the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. An agreement to this effect was made between the Government and the INTO in the 1980s and this agreement has been fully and rigorously adhered to since then.
Schools with disadvantaged status, including the schools in question, are entitled to a level of staffing which enables them to operate at a maximum class size of 29:1. Schools selected for inclusion in the urban dimension of the Breaking the Cycle scheme, including the schools in question, are entitled to a level of staffing which enables them to operate within a maximum class size of 15 pupils in all junior classes. In line with the agreement referred to above, these staffing allocations are also determined by reference to the schools' enrolments at 30 September of the previous school year.
A member of my Department's inspectorate visited the schools in question recently and has reported that the staffing allocations in both cases are adequate to enable the schools to operate within the maximum class sizes referred to above.
