Vol. 506 No. 2
437 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will accede to the request (details supplied) by Scoil Eoin Phóil, Leixlip, to retain a teacher rather than lose it to the supplementary panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15198/99]
The staffing of primary schools is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between this Department and the education partners.
The current staffing of Scoil Eoin Phoil is a principal and nine mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 262 as at 30 September 1997. The school also has the services of a remedial teacher and a special additional assistant. The enrolment as at 30 September 1998, on which the staffing for the 1999-2000 school year is based, was 235 pupils. Unfortunately, this does not meet the retention requirement for the ninth assistant teacher, despite the fact that I have reduced the retention figure from 257 to 240 in the 1999-2000 staffing schedule. In the circumstances, I regret that there is no basis for allowing the school retain its existing staffing levels for the coming school year.
