Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to reduce the number of teaching staff at St. Joseph's School in East Wall Road, Dublin 3. [12562/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the school's enrolment on 30 September of the previous school year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the current school year is a principal and eight mainstream class teachers, based on its enrolment of 220 pupils on 30 September 2002. The school also has the services of a learning support teacher, a resource teacher, two posts to cater for educational disadvantage and a shared home school liaison teacher. Based on the school's enrolment of 172 pupils at 30 September 2003, its mainstream staffing for 2004-05 will be a principal and five mainstream class teachers. The school fulfils the criterion for appointment of an administrative principal based on its staffing of a principal and nine teachers when all posts are considered. A permanent teacher may be appointed to replace the principal in such circumstances. This will facilitate a staffing of principal and six mainstream class teachers and the net loss of posts as a consequence of applying the staffing schedule is two mainstream posts. There are no plans to adjust the additional posts allocated to the school under various support schemes.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if and when a special needs assistant will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12563/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no record of having received an application for special education resources from the school referred to by the Deputy. Any application received will be considered in the context of the criteria set out in the relevant Department circulars and the existing level of special education resources provision in the school.