Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Regrettably, I was half expecting the Minister of State's reply. If the school was a DEIS school, the threshold or ratio would be lower, it would have access to the home-school liaison and school completion programmes, literacy and numeracy supports and other planning and professional supports. Not only does it not have access to such supports but it is due to lose a teacher unless the Minister agrees to intervene.

Three quarters of schools in the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas have DEIS status. Given what has happened in these communities for the past 30 or 40 years and perhaps even longer, all schools in these areas should have DEIS status. Anyone who is familiar with the Dublin 12 area in particular will understand the context and background of children in the area who attend the school in question.

A pupil-teacher ratio of 27:1 is not conducive to a good teaching outcome, as all Deputies who have served as their party spokespersons on education will accept. According to the Minister of State, the school's enrolment was six short of the figure required for a second additional teacher. He also indicated the school can apply again next year for an additional teacher. Next year will be too late for this year's sixth class, which will be forced to amalgamate.

The appeal letter issued by the board of management and principal states:

The combined 5th/6th class, would have to operate with so little space in horribly cramped, overcrowded conditions where their education would be seriously compromised, even jeopardised. Should a teacher be absent and a class need to be split among the remaining teachers, we will find ourselves unable to accommodate pupils safely with adequate supervision. Leaving children outside rooms, in corridors is simply not an option!

This is what the school will be forced to do if the Minister continues with the policy that was announced.

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