Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

The Government also reduced class sizes for the most disadvantaged in DEIS schools to an average of one teacher for every 20 pupils in junior classes and an average of one teacher for every 24 pupils in senior classes and these will not change in 2009. When one adds up all the teachers in the system there is one teacher for every 16 pupils in primary schools.

It will be necessary in the more testing economic climate ahead for us to continue to target and prioritise our resources to maximum effect for everyone. While teacher numbers are important numerous influential reports have highlighted the fact that teacher quality is the single most important factor, far and above anything else, in improving educational outcomes for children. Ensuring high-quality teaching and learning is a challenge and dealing with factors that inhibit it represents a challenge for the Government, the Department, school management and the teacher unions.

The Department of Education and Science will advise individual schools in the normal way on their staffing and grant allocations. The preparatory work for this has commenced with the processing of enrolment data that has been received from schools. The staffing allocation processes, including notification to schools, will commence early in the new year and Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre CBS primary school will also receive its notification in due course. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules.

In addition to the mainstream classroom teachers the Department also allocates teaching resources to schools for special needs and language support. The final allocation to a school is also a function of the operation of the redeployment panels which provide for the retention of a teacher in an existing school if a new post is not available within the agreed terms of the scheme.

The Government is committed to continuing to invest in education but we have to invest at a level that is consistent with what we can afford and what is sustainable given the economic circumstances. It is important that we explain the general background to the budget and how it affects this school and all other schools throughout the country. Therefore, stabilising the public finances is an essential first step in securing employment, future economic prosperity and ultimately the capacity to maintain public services, including education. By taking the necessary measures now, we will be well positioned to enable our country to take full advantage when the economic situation improves.

I have taken on board what the Deputy stated and if the school has a particular case with regard to language support I have no doubt it will be put to the Department in due course. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

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