Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 774: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the application for a technology teacher which was submitted to her by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in view of the fact that, following research by teachers and parents at open nights, it was found that the lack of non-academic subjects on the school curriculum was deemed a strong disadvantage for the pupils by parents and prospective parents alike and that the school has served the population of Artane, Coolock and beyond since the mid-1950s and has a team of dedicated teachers who are fully supported by the parents in their objective to ensure the school is able to offer a broader-based education to its pupils. [10490/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Teacher allocations for second level schools are approved by the Department of Education and Science on an annual basis, in accordance with generally applied rules based on recognised pupil enrolments on 30 September of the preceding school year. School management authorities are required to organise their curricula, teaching timetables and subject options with regard to the needs of pupils, within the limits of approved teacher allocations.

The rules for allocating teaching posts provide that if a school management authority is unable to meet essential curricular commitments, the Department will consider applications for additional short-term support. The Department recently received an application from the school for curricular concessions, including an application for 11 hours per week of technology, woodwork and graphics and 11 hours per week of ICT for the 2006-07 school year. The application is under consideration at present and a decision will be notified to the school in due course.