Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 3 together.

DEIS is one of the key measures to address the national target under the EU 2020 National Reform Programme. Among the key issues and needs addressed by DEIS are targeted reductions in pupil-teacher ratios. The reform of the teacher allocations process under budget 2012 includes no change to the mainstream staffing schedule for primary schools of a general average of 28 pupils to one teacher, including DEIS band 2 schools. A dedicated staffing schedule for DEIS band 1 schools will preserve the favourable ratios of 20:1 and 24:1 for these schools, while additional support is being provided for DEIS post-primary schools through an improved staffing schedule of 18.25:1.

The report on the net effect, in terms of posts, of budget measures on DEIS band 1 and band 2 urban primary schools that still had additional posts allocated under disadvantage schemes pre-dating DEIS was published earlier this week.

On foot of the analysis in the report, the Government has now agreed to my proposal to retain a total of 235 posts, on a concessionary basis, in DEIS band 1 and DEIS band 2 schools. As already announced, the withdrawal of 192 posts from primary schools outside DEIS bands 1 and 2 and from DEIS second level schools will proceed.

On the reallocation of posts under the general allocation model, GAM, I can now confirm that DEIS band 1 schools will be given an additional allocation of 0.2 of a post where the school has less than 200 pupils and 0.4 of a post where the school has 200 or more pupils. We will continue to ensure that DEIS schools in the most disadvantaged areas are prioritised for targeted support, including preferential pupil-teacher ratios over and above mainstream schools.

My Department replied to a recent freedom of information request on the withdrawal of certain posts under pre-DEIS schemes. This request was refused under sections 19 and 20 of the Freedom of Information Act as the records in question were the subject of ongoing consideration at ministerial and official level at the time of the request. This decision may be appealed under section 14(7) of the Act.

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