88 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science the schools which have teacher counsellors; if he will report on the experience of this programme to date; the plans, if any, he has to expand this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20186/99]

A total of 46 schools are included in the support teacher pilot project formerly known as the teacher counsellor project. The schools in question are served by a total of 40 support teachers. Details of the 46 schools in question folow.

The operation of the pilot phase of the support teacher project has been closely monitored by my Department and an initial evaluation report on the project was prepared by members of my Department's inspectorate and the school psychological service. Following consideration of this initial evaluation a co-ordinator was appointed to oversee the project and assist its effective operation. The project will be subject to further evaluation and the question of its expansion will be addressed in the context of that evaluation.

Allocation of Support Teacher posts

89 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to develop a package of support for teaching principals. [20002/99]

I am very much aware of the central role which principals play in our school system. I am also aware that the provision of effective supports to teaching principals is a complex issue. The role of each principal in different schools will vary depending on a wide range of factors, for example, the size of their school. Principals in the over 800 schools which have only one or two teachers obviously face a very different issues to those in larger schools. It was because of the need to examine the full range of issues that I established, last year, a working group to examine the rights, roles, duties and responsibilities of principals, both administrative principals and teaching principals, in primary schools. The review group, which was chaired by Teri Garvey, was representative of the partners in education and current and former principals comprised a majority of its membership.

As the Deputy may be aware, teaching principals already have a range of supports to assist them in carrying out their functions in schools. These include the middle management structure in schools, in accordance with which principals may delegate some functions to other teachers in the school. These structures were designed to compensate for the increasing levels of administration and management that arise as schools increase in size. Approximately three quarters of all primary schools have middle management structures. Principals in many schools also have access to secretarial and caretaking services funded by my Department.

As the Deputy may be aware, I recently announced a major investment of £2.7 million to provide for a substantial improvement to the secretarial-caretaking scheme in primary schools. In addition, various initiatives implemented by the Government have ensured that the fundraising burden placed on principals has been significantly reduced and important training supports have been put in place. I remain committed to ensuring that principals in all our primary schools are effectively supported in their roles and will certainly consider in great detail the report of the working group.