Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if funds will be made available in order that a second person may be appointed to the remaining 13 one-teacher schools here on the basis of health and safety. [3987/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The mainstream teacher allocation of all primary schools, including one-teacher schools, is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The staffing schedule is outlined in a circular which is issued annually to all primary schools. In addition, such schools may be eligible for additional teacher or special needs assistant allocations in accordance with the criteria for the allocation of special needs resource.

Sections 14, 15 and 23 of the Education Act 1998 assigns each board of management and principal teacher responsibility for the day-to-day management of schools at both primary and post-primary level. Principals should organise supervision for the order and general behaviour of pupils during school hours. In particular, they should organise and participate in the effective supervision of the pupils during breaks, lunch breaks, assembly and dismissal. Rules 121(4) and 124(1) of the rules for national schools and section 23(2) of the Education Act 1998 oblige teachers to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and to participate in supervising pupils when the pupils are on school premises, during school time and/or on school activities. Accordingly, the responsibility of all teachers individually and collectively to provide a duty of care at all times towards the pupils in the school in which they teach, including periods of supervision, remains. Special needs assistants who may be assigned to schools to cater for pupils with significant care needs may be required to assist such pupils, if appropriate.

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. A detailed review of the position of the 13 one-teacher schools with less than 12 pupils enrolled on the 30 September 2004 is being undertaken and will be completed as speedily as possible.