Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an application from a school (details supplied) in County Mayo for an administrative principal position has been refused when another school has been successful; and the reason the ancillary grant for this school is less than other schools of same study. [28688/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support. The special school referred to by the Deputy has an authorised staffing of 1 Principal and 3 full-time teachers. My Department has previously outlined directly to the school, the position in relation to the provision of an administrative principal post in the school. The Report of the Special Education Review Committee outlines that an administrative principal post should be appointed in a special school at the point at which the six teacher (5th assistant) is about to be appointed to a school. Special schools are paid an ancillary services grant based on the number of authorised full-time teaching staff approved for the school. The special school referred to by the Deputy receives an ancillary services grant of €24,050.00, based on its authorised staffing level.