Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Wednesday 16°CThursday 15°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
EducationNews

Calls for Minister to intervene as Creeslough school denied extra teacher

written by Chris McNulty April 5, 2018
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

As Creeslough national school’s application for an additional teacher has been rejected, Deputy Thomas Pringle has raised the issue directly with the Minister for Education, Richard Bruton.

Creeslough is a DEIS school with a projected pupil number of 124 children from September and there are currently five teachers including one post of ‘learning support’.

It is claimed the threshold for an additional staff member is 113 pupils and as a consequence of the Dept’s refusal to provide an extra teacher, it has led to a situation of class overcrowding.

Deputy Pringle told this week’s Tirconaill Tribune: “It is unfortunate that the Minister did not grant the school an additional teacher for 2018/2019 despite the pupil teacher ratio exceeding the Department’s own limits and considering that the DEIS school serves a rural area of high economic and social deprivation.

“Overcrowding in the school will only increase as pupil numbers rise adding to the difficulties around the lack of facilities in the school. An enormous amount of pressure is being placed on teachers and staff particularly at infant level to deliver on the curriculum in an environment that continues to deteriorate as the pupil teacher ratio rises further over the course of the year.

“I believed the situation at Scoil Mhuire warranted a debate in the Dáil with the Minister himself. Unfortunately the Minister declined my request to review the strict criteria for extra staffing even though schools like Creeslough are falling outside existing categories.

“The school had to appeal on the grounds of ‘alleviating pressure on class size at infant level’ even though their needs went well beyond this categorisation.”

Deputy Pringle said he was seeking a review of the decision and has issued a call on the Minister to examine what he called the ‘restrictive nature’ of the application process.

Calls for Minister to intervene as Creeslough school denied extra teacher was last modified: April 5th, 2018 by Chris McNulty
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
CreesloughCreeslough NSDeputy Thomas PringleMINISTER FOR EDUCATION
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Arranmore Blueway videos ready for official launch...

7 hours ago

Donegal girl TJ takes big steps ahead...

8 hours ago

Donegal mourns passing of pioneering nun, Sr....

10 hours ago

Cars targeted in vandalism incident in East...

10 hours ago

Two drivers injured in Inishowen collision

10 hours ago

Martin McDermott elected new Mayor of Inishowen...

13 hours ago

Six Donegal bands hit all the right...

14 hours ago

Three heifers and bullock stolen from Manorcunningham...

15 hours ago

Food van vandalised again in Ramelton

18 hours ago

Former Donegal County Manager appointed as chair...

18 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy