Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

John Bruton

Ceist:

1221 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science when an additional temporary teaching post, a second full-time remedial teacher and a full-time resource teacher will be appointed at Ratoath national school; if his Department will sanction a resource teacher who is also a qualified teacher of French to teach French to four students, two of whom do not speak English; when new prefabricated buildings will be brought on site to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1742/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with the guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners.

The enrolment at the school in question was 575 pupils on 30 September 2000, which warrants the staffing of a principal and 20 mainstream class teachers for the current school year. This school was granted an additional developing school post from 1 September 2001 based on its enrolment of 624 pupils in September 2001.

The national staffing schedule for the 2002-03 school year has not yet been finalised. Once finalised, all schools will be informed of their mainstream staffing levels for the 2002-03 school year.

The school in question currently has the services of a full-time learning support teacher. The need for further such support at the school will be taken fully into account in the event of additional learning support teacher posts becoming available for allocation. My Department approved an increased level of resource teaching support for the school in November 2001. There is no record of any application for a further increase in this support.

The teaching of French at primary level is being addressed under a pilot scheme at present. The Kildare Education Centre, Kildare town, is operating this scheme. It is open to the authorities at the school in question to apply to this centre should they wish to participate in next year's modern languages scheme.

My Department has received an application for temporary accommodation at the school. This application will be dealt with as quickly as possible.