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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

128 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take with regard to the unsatisfactory pupil/teacher ratio (details supplied) at Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown, Cork where the majority of classes have in excess of 30 pupils. [27185/00]

The staffing of a primary school for a particular year is determined by reference to the number of pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September of the previous year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule. The staffing schedule is determined for a particular year following discussions with the managerial authorities and the INTO.

The current staffing of this particular school is a principal and 16 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 474 as at 30 September 1999. This is the authorised staffing of the school, and represents a decrease of one mainstream class teacher on the previous school year's staffing. The school also has the services of two learning support teachers, two resource teachers, a home school liaison teacher and a resource teacher for travellers.

The enrolment of the school as at 30 September 2000 will determine the staffing for the 2001-02 school year. The enrolment at the school has decreased to 451 pupils on 30 September 2000.

The organisation of classes is the function of the managerial authorities of the school, who should ensure that classes are arranged in such a manner that no individual class is too large.

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