Concerns for schools raised with ministers
THE issue of pupil-teacher ratios and enrolment thresholds for primary schools in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht was brought before Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn and Minister for State Ciaran Cannon last Thursday as they met with public representatives, part of a national delegation who travelled to Dublin to contest the proposed changes in the region.
Following a major public meeting on the issue in Dingle's Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne on Janaury 23, Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin and Labour Senator Marie Moloney raised issues from the meeting with the Ministers.
Concerns are rife that schools in the West Kerry Gaeltacht will not survive the changes, proposed by Minister Ruairi Quinn.
According to West Kerry INTO representatives, one of the expected implications is that threeteacher schools on the Dingle Peninsula may lose a teacher within the next number of years. In addition, the staffing schedule has been increased for two, three and four-teacher primary schools. In the case of a four-teacher school in the Gaeltacht, the required pupil number will increase from 76 to 83.
This is an increase of 10 per cent in the overall pupil population in a single year, which local INTO representatives deem to be extremely unfair as, outside the Gaeltacht, the increase being sought is just two per cent.
Deputy Griffin and Senator Moloney said that the joint delegation made a strong and case to the ministers and that their proposals are being taken into consideration.
"We received a commitment that our proposals would be responded to at the earliest possible time, following a thorough examination of the issues involved," said Senator Marie Moloney.
