John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me raise this matter on the Adjournment which is to do with the smooth running of secondary schools. We all acknowledge the difficult economic times for the country and the moratorium on appointments. However, when these measures were introduced some years ago it was found that they had an effect on the functioning of schools with regard to the appointment of assistant principal teachers or "A" posts. The Government at the time introduced alleviation measures. For instance, a school with a normal complement of eight assistant post holders was reduced to a complement of four or whatever. Without notice, the previous Government withdrew these alleviation measures in a particular school. The functions of these post holders include year head teachers who oversee a year class, are in charge of pastoral care and examinations. A reduction in the number of posts is understandable in the economic circumstances but what has happened in some schools is that with the retirement of teachers, schools are left without any assistant post holders to help run the school. The only management person is the principal of the school.

Many schools have contacted me on the issue but I refer to Mount St. Michael school in Claremorris in my constituency. According to the alleviation measures as this school had between 400 and 500 pupils it would have been originally entitled to eight posts but this has been reduced to four by the cutbacks. A teacher retired on 31 December 2010. Because of the alleviation measures the principal was under the impression that the school would be entitled to replace the post. The first indication of the change was in a letter from the Department which stated that the alleviation measures had been withdrawn and therefore sanction for the fourth appointment could not be granted. Schools need a minimum number of post holders. Teachers do much extra voluntary work in schools such as training teams or extra-curricular activities such as debating. These posts are needed so that the school can function efficiently. Some schools are at breaking point as a result of the cutbacks.

This Government had neither hand, act nor part in taking away the alleviation measures as this was done by the previous Government. I appeal to the Minister to consider the situation. Whole school evaluation inspections cost thousands of euro and they are necessary. However, in the case of some schools, the whole school evaluation report will state that they are not fulfilling the policies stipulated by the Department. The reason is that they cannot carry out these policies because the appointments have not been sanctioned. I appeal to the Minister to examine this situation to see if there is a way to alleviate it. I have referred to the school in question in Claremorris with the full agreement of the school in order to illustrate the point.

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