Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

Recently, I raised the issue of the changes at Question Time, particularly those that affect programmes like Breaking the Cycle and the pupil teacher ratio of 15:1 for disadvantaged schools. The Minister said originally that the ratio might be moved to 18:1, but the website shows it is moving to 20:1. Will the Minister come back to me on that issue? The big concern is that if the ratio moves from 15:1 to 18:1, we may be able to squeeze the extra children into the classrooms, although the classrooms have been designed specifically for a ratio of 15:1. However, if the ratio moves to 20:1, I do not know how that will be accommodated. There will be significant costs in that regard.

We have spoken about DEIS and we are aware that it was never about savings, but was about dismantling barriers? I ask that the Minister come back to me with regard to whatever proposals he has about schools that fit all the criteria for DEIS. This is something that must be addressed if we are to deal with disadvantage and unfairness within the system. We must deal with the issue of the schools that fit the criteria but which, for financial reasons or whatever, cannot gain recognition to be part of the DEIS programme. Many of these schools will have been affected by the budget changes on this. One school in my area, St. Mary's, will possibly lose five teachers, although it probably fits the criteria for DEIS. As an outsider, I see it as fitting all the criteria on the basis of need, etc.

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