asked the Minister for Education if he will sanction an ex-quota post of remedial guidance at the Sacred Heart secondary school, Sunnyside, Drogheda, County Louth; if he is aware that the school has 467 students which is within 7 per cent of the 500 required for an ex-quota counsellor; if he is aware that to date the parents have funded the salary for this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Remedial and Guidance Posts.
223.
The regulations require schools to have at least 500 pupils in order to qualify for an ex-quota guidance post. As the enrolment in Sacred Heart school is below that figure, an ex-quota post cannot be sanctioned.
In accordance with the provisions in the national plan, 55 additional remedial and guidance posts were allocated this year to post-primary schools catering for disadvantaged pupils. An application from the Sacred Heart school for one of these posts was received and carefully considered but the school was not among those regarded as the most needy.