Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry where due to staff shortages teachers are teaching exam subjects for which they are not qualified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38263/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry which asked parents or guardians to make a voluntary contribution to pay for the recruitment of physical and art teachers in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38265/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together.

Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its time-table and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.

The rules for allocating teaching resources provide that where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department will consider applications for additional short term support i.e. curricular concessions.

An application for curricular concessions was received from the school referred to by the Deputy and the school in question was allocated an additional 1 wholetime equivalent teacher post. An independent appeals mechanism is available to school authorities who wish to appeal the adequacy of their teacher allocation. This school availed of this appeals mechanism and were allocated a further .5 wholetime equivalent teacher post. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. As the Appeals Committee operates independently of my Department in taking its decisions, you will appreciate that it would not be appropriate to intervene in any such decision.

It is a fundamental principle of the Free Second Level Education Scheme that no charge be made in respect of:—

(a) instruction in any subject of my Department's Programme for Secondary Schools;

(b) recreation or study facilities where all pupils are expected to avail themselves of them as part of the school programme.

(c) any other activity in which all pupils are required to take part.

Accordingly, it would be a breach of my Department's policy for post-primary schools involved in the Free Second Level Education Scheme to demand or levy a fee. However, voluntary contributions by parents, or charges for optional extras over and above what is provided for in the general school programme, are permissible provided that it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.