Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Colm Burke for raising this issue. It needs consideration. Senator Burke has set out his case. The school has 95 pupils, 16 classroom teachers and 35 special needs assistants. The staff numbers come to over 50.

Under the current arrangements for the appointment of administrative deputy principals, the criteria is based on the number of pupils. It is uniform across the school system. The relevant number is 637 pupils, which is the equivalent of a principal and 24 classroom teachers. I gather the point Senator Burke is making is that a large number of staff are involved, including 35 special needs assistants, and, as a result, there is a considerable management workload, even though the pupil numbers are nowhere near the 637 figure.

At the moment there are no plans to deviate from the current arrangements, which requires greater pupil numbers for the appointment of an administrative deputy principal. A request has been received from the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education, NABMSE, in respect of a number of larger special schools. As recently as Monday, my Department received updated submissions on the matter.

Accordingly, my Department is currently considering the matters relating to the administrative burden on administrative principals in these schools and is considering the case made in respect of the appointment of administrative deputy principals. My Department will further engage with relevant management bodies and unions in this regard and will submit proposals for my consideration when the consultation has concluded. The Senator has raised a valid concern and we will give it more careful scrutiny in consultation with the key bodies involved.