13/05/08

To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason his Department is deducting teaching hours from a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork that was allocated the additional hours in 2007 under development school status which are being fully utilised by children attending the school who are experiencing learning difficulties and which will also result in the loss of a permanent teaching position at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education and Science (Batt O'Keeffe, T.D.)

In April, 2008, my Department notified the school in question that based on its enrolments it has an over-allocation of 5 hours under the General Allocation Model for the 07/08 school year. My Department is liaising with the school on this matter and given that this issue has only recently come to light it is not intended to reduce the school's allocation for this school year.

All primary schools, including this school, have recently been asked to complete an application form for the allocation of Learning Support/Resource Teaching posts for the 2008/09 school year.

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