Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

402 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the specific arrangements which are in place to assist schools with the enrolment of non-English speaking refugee children; and the situation regarding the enrolment of such children at a primary and post-primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [4491/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

A primary school with 14 or more non-national pupils with significant English language deficits, is granted an additional temporary teaching post for up to two school years.

The board of management of the primary school referred to by the Deputy recently submitted an application for a teaching post for non national pupils. The application is being examined and my Department will advise the board of the position in the near future.

Primary schools where three to 13 non-national pupils are enrolled may apply to my Department for grant assistance towards the provision of teaching resources for the pupils. At second level where the number of such non-national pupils enrolled is between one and six, the school may be provided with an additional teaching allocation of two hours per week for each pupil up to a maximum of ten hours per week. The allocation for non-national pupils over six in number would generally be based on one and a half hours per week for each pupil. To date, the post-primary school in question has made no application to my Department in respect of non-national pupils with English language deficits. Any such application will be considered when it is received.