Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and I thank him for taking the time out from his busy schedule to deal with this query. St. Paul's School in Montenotte, Cork, has 95 students. Some have moderate learning disabilities and some have severe and profound learning disabilities. As I understand it, there are 15 class teachers and 35 special needs assistants.

There is a problem in the school. I spent two hours there recently. I put it to any public representative that it is well worth visiting these facilities from time to time to see the dedication and commitment of the staff. They do a fantastic job and provide a fantastic service. They provide learning opportunities for people with disabilities.

I met the principal and many of the staff for a period of two hours. A number of issues arise. One child in the school at the moment requires two people to be with him at all times. This is putting extraordinary strain on the staff. They have a choice to make in the coming week or two weeks and may have to suspend the child from coming to the school unless they can get more resources. They are seeking an administrative deputy. The school had one previously, but unfortunately that is no longer the position. They have a teaching deputy and another post. However, the view of the staff there is that if they had an administrative deputy, it would ease many of the difficulties they are facing.

The staff provide a fantastic service. The facility is close to the Cope Foundation, which provides care for over 1,200 people in residential settings and over 1,500 people on a day-care basis. The school is doing a very good job. It needs more support and that is why I have tabled the commencement matter today. I call on the Minister to provide a favourable response.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I very much appreciate the reply. I will send on the letter I received from the principal. One of the major issues is that because of the severe or profound learning disabilities of some of the students, extraordinary pressure is coming on staff. For example, when I was there one pupil required two staff members at all times. The school has a serious challenge in this regard.This pupil travels approximately 30 miles every day. There must be a care assistant with the child at all times and that is where the pressure lies. The school needs an administrative principal that would allow it to better deal with this particular pupil and with others who have profound learning disabilities.

I will pass on the correspondence I have received from the principal to the Minister to assist him in his consideration of this issue. On the next occasion the Minister is in Cork he should visit the facility. The dedication and commitment of the staff there is tremendous and that must be given some recognition.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I fully acknowledge that extraordinary work is being done by special schools who are supporting children with particular needs. However, my response must be one that takes into account all special schools, rather than one individual school or one individual set of needs. That is why my Department is dealing with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education so that we can get a broad perspective on the range of challenges and consider whether there is a case for the appointment of administrative principals on the basis of different criteria to those which currently apply. The current criteria apply on the same basis across all primary schools. While I welcome the submission from the individual school, my Department will have to consider this in the context of the broader issue.