Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully empathise. All of us who are politicians, particularly those who represent disadvantaged areas with a significant number of DEIS schools, have experience of many such cases. The Government is aware of the difficulties and we are working through them. The Deputies have seen changes in the pupil-teacher ratio. As the country recovers, it is an absolute priority to ensure this will happen more in the future. I re-emphasise that the staffing arrangements process for schools is independent. It is important to respect both the independence of the appeals process and the application of staffing arrangements for schools generally, which have to be implemented in a fair and consistent manner. The primary staffing appeals board is independent of the Minister for Education and Skills and its decision is final. However, based on an enrolment of 222 pupils and taking into consideration the staffing schedule for the next school year, Assumption girls' school in Walkinstown will have an entitlement to eight classroom teaching posts, with effect from September 2017.

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