asked the Minister for Education the location of schools which have been permitted to retain teachers, for whose retention there are not sufficient numbers on the rolls, on the grounds that these schools are situated in underprivileged areas.

My Department recently completed this year's allocation for new concessionary posts under the special scheme for providing additional teaching assistance to schools serving disadvantaged areas. Two of the schools selected for assistance under this scheme had a teaching post suppressed due to falling enrolments in the school. In each case, the school was allowed to retain the redundant teacher to fill the new concessionary post. The two schools in question are located in Ballina, County Mayo and in Ballyphehane, County Cork.

In addition, two schools in Dublin south city were allocated a concessionary post on a shared basis; as one of the schools concerned had a redundant teacher, my Department allowed this teacher to be retained to fill the shared concessionary post.