Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have committed to reducing class sizes in schools on the basis of having one teacher for every 23 students, which I think is historic. I welcome this ratio. Yet, there is a school in rural Carlow that has two new students and this pushes it over the ratio limit. The Department has said it is not entitled to keep and retain their teacher from last year. It is my understanding that the primary staffing appeals board goes on 2022 figures. The school is telling me that even though the Department knows it has the number, it has to submit a new staffing appeal to the June meeting of the primary staffing appeals board. Common sense should prevail. The school has a teacher and it has all the children for 2023. Why is the primary staffing appeals board going on 2022 figures? It just does not make sense. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Foley, about this. This issue is probably across all other schools as well.

See this speech in context