Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2011
105 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no alleviation posts were allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the large number of traveller pupils in the school and the fact that more than five full time equivalent post are being suppressed in the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17702/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra106 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used to allocate alleviation posts to primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17712/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.
Limited alleviation or adjustment measures have been provided to assist schools which have high concentrations of Traveller pupils who were previously supported by Resource Teacher for Travellers (RTT) posts. As the Deputy is aware, the decision to remove these posts was taken by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government in last December's Budget.
In respect of primary schools with DEIS, (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) status, including the school in question, Traveller enrolments have now been included in the valid enrolment for the purpose of allocating additional staffing under DEIS from the 2011/12 school year. Following an adjustment in staffing levels to include pupils previously supported by RTT posts in the valid enrolment for the purpose of allocating additional staffing under DEIS, the school referred to by the Deputy has been allocated 2 additional teaching posts. Adjustment measures have therefore been applied in relation to this school.
