Vol. 540 No. 1
495 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is in a position to respond favourably to the request by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for a decision on their staffing allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19992/01]
The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners.
The enrolment at the school in question has decreased from 275 pupils on 30 September 1999 to 252 pupils on 30 September 2000. This latter enrolment will entitle the school to a staffing of a principal and nine mainstream class teachers for the 2001 to 2002 school year.
In addition, the school has two learning support teachers, one special class teacher, one resource teacher, one home-school liaison teacher and one early start teacher. I have asked my Department's inspectorate to investigate if additional support for special needs pupils and resource teaching hours is required in the school. Officials from the special education section of my Department will contact the board of management directly on this issue.
The school referred to by the Deputy is included in the urban dimension of the new disadvantaged programme, Giving Children An Even Break. The school will receive supplementary grant aid of £1,979 towards providing additional educational supports for the children concerned in respect of the current school year. The school was not considered eligible for additional teaching staff, based on the level of concentration of at risk pupils in the schools as reflected in the Educational Research Centre survey outcome.
