Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to outline the impact of the budget measures at post-primary level. Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. The 2009 budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure in the interests of controlling expenditure and ensuring sustainability in the long term. While the education sector was protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, it could not be entirely spared. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, acknowledges the impact of funding restrictions in a number of areas, including at school level. They are the inevitable result of the need to manage Exchequer resources prudently in the current challenging economic environment. One of the decisions that was taken involves increasing the pupil-teacher ratio across all second level schools from 18:1 to 19:1. In the case of fee-charging post-primary schools, there will be an additional one-point adjustment to 20:1.

The impact of the staffing schedule changes and the withdrawal of historic DEIS and language support posts needs to be considered alongside the expected increases in teacher numbers in certain areas, for demographic reasons, and the appointment of additional resource teachers for special needs. In that context, it is likely that there will be an overall net reduction of 200 posts at second level. This number represents less than 1% of all teaching posts in second level schools. When examined as part of the targeted payroll reduction in the public sector as a whole, it is a demonstration of the Government's desire to protect front-line staff in schools to the greatest extent possible.

As the processing of the September 2008 enrolment returns for post-primary schools has not yet been finalised, it is not possible to outline to the House the impact of such changes on the allocation of mainstream teaching posts for the 2009-10 school year in the schools in question. The staffing schedule for the 2009-10 school year will be issued to all schools as soon as possible. A more accurate indication of mainstream staffing levels will be available at that time. The allocation processes include appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocations due to them under the staffing schedules. This is particularly relevant at post-primary level where the appellate process takes particular account of any specific curricular needs of the school concerned. At post-primary level there is currently no effective system-wide redeployment scheme and this can mean that schools retain teachers, though over-quota. In addition, discrete allocations may be made to post-primary schools to cater, for example, for pupils with special educational needs and those with language difficulties. These allocations can also alter the ultimate position of the school in regard to any over-quota position.

The Department is aware of funding pressures on schools. However, progress has been made in recent years that has seen the post-primary capitation grant increased by €15 per pupil to a total of €331 per pupil. In addition, voluntary secondary schools have benefited from the increase of €15 per pupil in 2008 in the support services grant, bringing that grant to €204 per pupil.

The cumulative increase of €30 per pupil in voluntary secondary schools brings the aggregate grant to €535 per pupil. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is also provided by the Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. Budget allocations for schools in the community and comprehensive school sector, along with those in the VEC sector, are increased on a pro rata basis with increases in the per capita grant. All schools are eligible for recurrent per capita grants towards special classes and curricular support grants.

The funding mechanisms in place afford schools considerable flexibility in the use of their resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, appreciates that the abolition of several grants for some schools will impact on funding levels in 2009. However, the enhanced levels of funding announced in the budget for the capitation and ancillary services grants will help to alleviate the impact of this.

I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to address the House on this matter and for the information he has provided on the schools in question. I appreciate the opportunity to outline the current position on these general issues.

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