Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 1222: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if all of the 20 one-teacher schools will have a second person working in the school on health and safety grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40191/05]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1225: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the necessary funding will be made available to ensure that a second teacher is appointed to all remaining one teacher schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40214/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1222 and 1225 together. Under the staffing schedule for primary schools, an enrolment of 12 recognised pupils at the end of September 2004 is required for the employment of a principal and one mainstream classroom teacher. However, the provisional enrolment figures, which have been submitted to my Department, indicate that a minimum of 12 recognised pupils were enrolled in several schools which have one teacher and, on this basis, the schools concerned would qualify for the appointment of a mainstream teacher in 2006. Following detailed consideration of the position of these schools, I am pleased to inform the Deputies that, as an entirely exceptional matter, I decided that a mainstream class teacher may be appointed in those schools immediately rather than with effect from 1 September 2006 which is the position which would normally apply in these circumstances and the boards of management of the schools concerned were notified accordingly. A detailed review of the position of the 13 one-teacher schools with fewer than 12 pupils enrolled on 30 September 2004 is being undertaken and will be completed as speedily as possible.

In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils. The safety statement should be reviewed on a regular basis.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 1223: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the ratio of one guidance counsellor to 250 pupils will be restored. [40195/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department makes a specific ex-quota allocation of teaching posts in respect of guidance to schools in the second level system. This allocation is based on the pupil enrolment in September of the preceding school year. As a result of my decision to allocate an additional 100 posts to guidance from September 2005 an enhanced guidance allocation provision was put in place for the 2005-06 school year. As a result for schools in the free education or block grant schemes, the level of allocation ranges from eight hours per week for schools with enrolments below 200 pupils to 47 hours per week for schools with an enrolment of 1,000 pupils or more. In addition, certain schools which had been allocated hours in response to particular needs or as part of the guidance enhancement initiative, have been permitted to retain this higher allocation for the 2005-06 school year.

In the case of schools outside the free education or block grant schemes, 11 hours per week are allocated in respect of schools in the 350-499 enrolment category and a full post is allocated in the case of schools with 500 or more pupils. My decision to allocate 100 additional posts to enhance existing provision reflects the importance which I attach to the area of guidance.