Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, for bringing forward this motion on the reduction of staff numbers at specific schools. I want to strongly make the case for adding Castleblayney girls school to that list in light of the fact it will not only lose one teacher but two. I understand this school, which has already been classified as disadvantaged, may be down up to ten pupils which under the current regulations will mean it will automatically lose a teacher. However, this in turn will mean the principal will have to become a class teacher again, leading to an actual loss of two teachers. Under the DEIS structures, the principal is supposed to attend a number of meetings outside the school and this will now be virtually impossible as she has to manage a staff of eight. I urge that the case of this school be addressed as a matter of urgency. Under the DEIS scheme, the principal delivers breakfast clubs, hot lunch clubs and after school activities, which are important in this type of area.

Some 18 months ago the Oireachtas Members of Cavan-Monaghan were invited to meet the INTO personnel in Urbleshanny national school. While only Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and myself turned up, I will always remember the case put forward by the spokesperson, the late Peter McGrane, and the fact that we were shown around the classrooms where one teacher was trying to deal with 37 students and others were not far behind in that regard. When I rang that school today I was advised in no uncertain terms that nothing has changed in spite of this Government's general election promises. While the largest class currently is 35, there will be an increase in the number of students next September, making the pupil-teacher ratio even worse.

I spoke to people in quite a few other schools who are in a similar position, but the greatest problem in areas such as Monaghan is the significant number of non-English speaking students, never mind those with a handicap or disadvantage. Classes of more than 30 students are impossible to manage in that situation. As one teacher pointed out to me, a child with minor difficulties is at least equivalent to two children while a child with major difficulties is the equivalent of dealing with five children.

Added to all of that is the serious difficulty in having a child assessed to ensure that proper backup services are obtained, as every effort is being made by the Department to minimise the number of classroom assistants. Even when children are assessed, the assessment often comes back in statement form to the effect that, for instance, there is a tendency towards dyslexia rather than stating the child actually has the problem.

It is vital that the Government, as a first step, ensures no teacher is removed from any school and that a genuine effort is made to reach the goal put forward at election time. No teacher or parent expects this to be done instantly, but they do expect a genuine movement in this direction. The lack of effort on school buildings and other issues in recent times is deplorable and must be improved.

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