Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1073: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the current teaching resources provided to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in view of the likely reduction in the number of teachers in the school by 1.5 in September 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24279/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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According to my Department's records, the school referred to by the Deputy had an enrolment of 149 pupils on 30 September 2004. On the basis of this enrolment, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the appointment of one additional mainstream class teacher is warranted for the 2005-06 school year. Therefore, the mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will be a principal, administrative principal, five mainstream class teachers and one special class teacher.

As the Deputy is also aware, a new general allocation scheme has been announced under which schools have been provided with resource teaching hours, based on their enrolment figures, to cater for children with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs.

The general allocation for the school in question is one full-time permanent teaching post. On the basis of information supplied by the school to officials in my Department, approval was given to retain an additional full-time post for the current school year by combining hours for individual pupils with low incidence special needs and also some transitional hours. Consequently the school has two full-time posts to cater for the special educational needs of its pupils.

The school is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme, the giving children an even break programme and the support teacher scheme.

Under the disadvantaged areas scheme the school has one concessionary teaching post, additional capitation grants of €38.09 per capita, a refund of the television licence fee and eligibility for 95% building grants for building projects. It also has the service of a shared home-school community liaison co-ordinator.

Under the urban dimension of the giving children an even break programme, the school is benefiting from supplementary funding to enable it to provide additional educational supports for its pupils.

Furthermore the school has one full support teacher project post. The support teacher project supports 47 designated schools with 41 teachers. It aims to co-ordinate a whole school approach to designing and implementing good practice and strategies. These strategies will help to prevent the occurrence of disruptive behaviour and to teach and counsel small groups and individuals who exhibit persistent behaviour difficulties in the classroom.

In total, the school has twelve full-time teachers and one shared teacher. Given that the enrolment on 30 September 2004 was just 149 pupils, I consider that the school is very well supported in terms of teaching resources.