Vol. 508 No. 1
877 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for his Department's refusal to sanction an additional teacher for Kilternan Church of Ireland national school (details supplied); the reason his Department is refusing to grant a fifth teacher on the grounds that in September 1998 the school did not have sufficient pupils to warrant one; and if he will clarify the application of Circular No. 21/1999 in relation to this school. [17803/99]
882 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if sanction will be given for an additional teacher at Kilternan Church of Ireland national school (details supplied) in view of pupil numbers at the school. [17808/99]
949 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether the pupil-teacher ratio at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin is unacceptably high; and if he will sanction a fourth assistant teacher for the school to ensure no class exceeds 30 pupils to enable the school to meet the needs of the growing communities in its catchment area. [18299/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 877, 882 and 949 together.
I have been concerned for some time about the number of large classes in the primary system and have been examining ways to target additional teaching resources to those schools with the greatest need in this area. The new staffing schedule which issued in April last has been structured to ensure that all primary schools will operate to a maximum class size of 30 pupils.
However, the staffing schedule has traditionally been applied on the basis of the previous year's enrolment figures, and this continues to be the case. Therefore, the schools which will benefit from the new schedule are those whose enrolment in September 1998 qualifies them for an additional post in the 1999-2000 school year – as set out in Department Circulars 5/99 and 21/99. Such schools will, therefore, be in a position to organise classes in such a way as to ensure that there are no longer any very large classes.
The enrolment at Kilternan Church of Ireland School on 30 September 1998 of 117 pupils warrants the staffing of a principal and three mainstream class teachers for the current school year. This gives a maximum class size of just over 29 which is within the guidelines outlined in Circulars 5/99 and 21/99. This is the same staffing which the school had for the 1998-99 school year. In addition, the school has the services of a shared remedial teacher.
878 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science when Circular No. 3/95 (details supplied) in relation to maximum class sizes was rescinded and replaced by Circular No. 21/1999. [17804/99]
I have been concerned for some time about the number of large classes in the primary system, and have been examining ways to target additional teaching resources to schools with the greatest need in this area. The staffing schedule which issued with Circular No. 5/99 in April last was structured to ensure that all primary schools will operate to a maximum class size of 30 pupils. In effect, therefore, the old maximum class size guidelines have been obsolete since the commencement of the current school year. However, the staffing schedule has traditionally been applied on the basis of the enrolment figures for the previous school year, and this continues to be the case. Therefore, the schools which will initially benefit from the new schedule are those who qualify for an additional post on the basis of their enrolment in September 1998. These schools will be in a position to achieve average class sizes which meet the 30 pupil objective, in accordance with the terms of Circular No. 21/99.
Schools which are designated as disadvantaged will continue to operate to a maximum class size guideline of 29. Such schools which are unable to organise classes in compliance with this guideline may apply for an additional post before 1 November 1999.
