177 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that Duleek girls' and boy's national schools, County Meath, do not lose teachers in September 1997 in view of the serious needs of the area they serve. [12466/97]

As the Deputy is aware, the staffing of a national school for a particular year is determined by the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year.

The enrolments of Duleek boys' school and Duleek girls' school on 30 September 1996 were 181 pupils and 184 pupils respectively. These enrolments warrant a staffing of a principal and five assistant teachers at each school for the 1997-8 school year.

I should remind the Deputy, however, that since taking office I have reduced the pupil teacher ratio from 25.2 to 22.2 in the current year.