Ceist:
342 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8 has its needs met. [14607/01]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:343 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will take steps to deal with the staffing needs of an inner city school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14608/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.
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 that is formulated for a particular year following discussions with the managerial authorities and the INTO.
The school in question is included in the urban dimension of the Breaking the Cycle pilot project. Since its introduction in 1996, schools selected for inclusion in the urban dimension of the pilot project have been allocated sufficient staffing resources to enable them to operate within the maximum class size of 15 pupils in all junior classes. In line with the arrangements for mainstream staffing, these staffing allocations are also determined by reference to the schools enrolment at 30 September of the previous school year.
The current staffing of this particular school is a principal and four mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 127 pupils at 30 September 1999. In addition, the school has been allocated one disadvantaged concessionary teacher, one learning support teacher, one special class teacher and a shared home-school-community liaison co-ordinator.
By virtue of its inclusion in Breaking the Cycle and on the basis of its enrolment figure at 30 September 1999, the school has been allocated one Breaking the Cycle teaching post in the current school year. In addition, in September 2000, as an exceptional arrangement, the school in question was allocated an additional temporary teaching post for the duration of its participation in the initial pilot phase of Breaking the Cycle.
Due to a decrease in enrolments on 30 September 2000 to 123 pupils, the school referred to by the Deputy requires one teaching post less for the 2001-02 school year than the number required in the current school year to stay within the maximum class size guidelines under Breaking the Cycle. Therefore on this basis, one Breaking the Cycle teaching post is due to be withdrawn at the end of the current school year. Following recent communication from the school I have asked officials of my Department to examine the situation in the school to see if there are any special circumstances.
The Deputy will also be aware of the new programme, Giving Children an Even Break, to tackle educational disadvantage which was launched by me in January of this year.
The new programme has both an urban and rural dimension and the school in question is included in the urban dimension of the programme. In addition to the additional resources allocated under the Breaking the Cycle scheme and the additional temporary teaching post, the school was allocated an additional grant of £2,337 under the new programme.