Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

-----about the impact of these measures on their schools over the next three years. The Minister confirmed that the measures will be implemented on a phased basis and that, as set out in the budget announcement, there will be alleviation measures for the schools most affected by the changes. The Minister will continue the conversation about identifying the most affected schools when he meets representatives of the INTO. I assure Deputy Martin that the Government's protection of disadvantaged schools is underlined by its maintenance of €13 million in enhanced funding and €2 million in schoolbook funding for DEIS schools, as well as its €26 million investment in the home school community liaison programme.

All of these areas have been protected from expenditure reductions in 2012. In order to distribute the resources available under DEIS fairly, it is no longer possible to retain this concession in some schools when comparable schools do not have it. In January 2012, following conversations with the Minister, all schools will be notified of their staffing entitlements under the new arrangements, including any alleviation measures that may apply. As I have said, this withdrawal is being done on a phased basis to allow schools to prepare for this gradual change. I remind the House that DEIS band 1 primary schools are given a dedicated staffing schedule based on a general average of one teacher per 22 pupils. This compares to a schedule of one teacher per 28 pupils in other schools.

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