Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Níl locht ar bith agam ar an Aire Stáit, ach os rud é go raibh an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna anseo níos túisce, tá díomá orm nach raibh sé ábalta fanacht don díospóireacht seo. Táim ag ardú cás Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire, an Tuairín agus tá a fhios agam go bhfuil eolas ag an Aire Stáit ar an scoil seo. Tá a fhios agam freisin go bhfuil gach duine ag léimneach suas agus anuas agus ag clamhsáin faoi ghach scoil atá ag cailleadh múinteora, ach sílim go bhfuil cás eisceachtúil sa chás seo. Chas mé le foireann na scoile maidin inné agus d'iarr siad orm é seo a ardú mar ábhar práinneach. Bhí 78 gasúr ar an rolla sa scoil i Meán Fómhair 2011. Suas go dtí an buiséad, bhí 76 gasúr ag teastáil, mar gur scoil Gaeltachta atá i gceist, leis an ceathrú múinteoir a choinneáil. Tá na huimhreacha sin athruithe anois, de bharr na hathruithe a thug an tAire isteach sa bhuiséad, go dtí 81. Tá beagáinín míchinnteacht faoi chéard atá ag tarlú sa gcás seo mar rinne siad athchomharc ar an chinneadh a rinneadh an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna go mbeadh siad ag cailleadh an ceathrú múinteoir. Beidh 83 dalta acu ar na rollaí, ach dúradh leo go dteastaíonn 85 dalta le haghaidh an ceathrú múinteoir a choinneáil. I gciorclán eile atá eisithe ag an Roinn, deirtear má tá scoil trí oide ann a bhfuil 83 dalta acu, tá siad i dteideal an ceathrú múinteoir a bheith acu. Tá beagáinín neamhchinnteacht ansin.

To clarify, I know the Minister is aware of the position at the school. The school will have 83 children on its roll. When the position was reviewed the school was told it would need 85 children, as opposed to 83, to retain the fourth teacher. Apparently, another circular states that if a three teacher school has 83 students it will be allowed a fourth teacher, therefore, how is it the school cannot be given leeway in this scenario? The figures show that in the following year the school will have 87 students. I understand the Minister has said that if there is a decline in population there must be a reduction in the number of teachers. This appears to be a temporary blip for one year. The numbers are increasing and the school can prove it. We ask the Minister to take the case on board. The numbers will increase to 87 students. If it was a three teacher school with 83 pupils, apparently the Department would allow a fourth teacher. As the school has been told it needs 85 pupils to keep the fourth teacher there appears to be an anomaly.

What is the criteria used in assessing the school? It appears to be based on numbers only. I argue that is against the ethos of the 20 year strategy for the Irish language which the Department has bought into and plays a significant part in its delivery. The strategy is about defending the teaching of Irish in Gaeltacht schools. We know there is an uphill battle on to keep Irish as a living language. The school is doing a good job in that respect and has a strong Irish language ethos. To lose a teacher at this stage would be detrimental to the school. The double whammy is that it would get the teacher back in the following year. The teacher who has worked for a number of years with the children with special educational needs would have to leave and all that expertise would be lost. A teacher would start from scratch next year. The school would also lose five hours of tacaíocht foghlama - learning support that is available to pupils.

I have raised this issue on a number of occasions in the Seanad and I know from the Minister's response that if a pattern of continuous decline in pupil numbers can be seen over a number of years, he would cut the number of teachers. I accept his rationale, but I do not agree with it. He also said, however, that if the blip was temporary, he would give some leeway and look again at the situation. I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, will reply in a second, but may I request to meet the Minister to discuss this school? This is a very important issue. Not only will the school lose this post but as a result of the review of the DEIS schools and the reallocation of staff to urban areas, the school suffered the double whammy of losing part of the capitation grant again.

I look forward to hearing the Minister's reply.