Dáil debates

Wednesday, 8 October 2014

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

School Staffing

9:30 am

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools with only one mainstream class teacher in the current academic year; the way this number compares with the number of one-teacher primary schools in the academic years 2013-14, 2012-13 and 2011-12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38280/14]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I seek information on the number of primary schools with only one mainstream class teacher in the current academic year and how this number compares with the number of one-teacher primary schools in the previous three years, since this Government came into office.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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This is my first time taking Priority Questions in the House as Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Opposition spokespersons for their questions and I look forward to working with them in a constructive way.

My Department publishes statistics annually including information on school size. In the last school year there were 29 one-teacher schools and 11 in each of the

previous two years. The number of one-teacher schools in the current school year is expected to be around 40 but the final position will not be known until the teacher allocation and appeals processes have fully concluded in the coming weeks. The pupil threshold for a two-teacher school was 12 pupils which gave an average class size of just six pupils. As part of budgetary measures the pupil threshold was increased, on a phased basis, to 20 pupils. This puts the staffing arrangements for small schools on a more affordable and sustainable basis.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I note the last comment of the Minister, that this puts the situation of small schools "on a more affordable and sustainable basis". There was no reference in the Minister's reply to educational standards, the needs of children or the needs of schools and communities. Instead, it is about money and affordability. That is a disappointing response.

It would be remiss of me not to wish the Minister well in her new role, which is a very important one. I congratulate her on her appointment. We have met at committee and I wish the Minister well over the coming period.

The Minister's predecessor introduced changes to school staffing thresholds which have had very damaging effects on small schools. Half of national schools in this country have four teachers or fewer and they are the schools which have been targeted. The Minister has indicated in her reply that her Government has overseen a fourfold increase in the number of one-teacher schools. There will be 40 such schools in this academic year. I ask the Minister to comment on how she views the situation facing students and teachers in those schools. How feasible is it for them to be in the situation created by this Government?

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The last element of the budgetary measures that were taken came into effect this September. The process took place over a number of years and is completed. All decisions are made on the basis of ensuring schools are sustainable, and that is the basis of the decisions made with regard to numbers. Some one-teacher schools are newly established and did not grow as quickly in their initial year of operation as had been anticipated. Not all one-teacher schools were previously multi-teacher schools. In some cases they are new schools that have not achieved anticipated enrolment levels.

As Deputy McConalogue knows, the intention is to ensure schools are sustainable. We are always available to discuss these issues. I have had some discussions on the specific issue of small schools. I intend to engage with Deputy McConalogue and other members of the Opposition on the issue.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's response is very disappointing. She indicated that her policy is to make schools sustainable, but I argue that her policy will make them unsustainable. I question the sustainability of the 40 one-teacher schools this Government has created. The number of such schools has increased from only 11 when this Government came into office. The Government is not making those schools more sustainable. Rather, it is making the situation difficult, if not impossible for them. This is not just an issue for one-teacher schools. The cuts have also had a negative impact on two, three and four-teacher schools.

There is no honesty from the Minister with regard to what her Department is doing. In fact, she is denying what it is doing. She is talking about sustainability when the Department is making the schools unsustainable. Meanwhile, the Minister refuses to publish the value for money report which was with her predecessor for 18 months. There has been no honest appraisal of the educational impact of what this Government is doing. Will the Minister address that point in her response and stop ignoring the reality of the difficulties being created for schools?

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am very much aware that the value for money report was with my predecessor and is now with me. I have engaged in reading the report. My Department is also engaged in discussions with the Catholic Primary School Managers Association and the Irish National Teachers Organisation on the proposals and on the general issue of smaller schools, not just one-teacher schools but also two, three and four-teacher schools. I am also discussing this issue with Government colleagues. I intend to publish the report as soon as those discussions have concluded. As the Deputy will appreciate, I am not in this job very long but I have started the discussion process.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is the same.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I intend to publish the report when those discussions have been completed. I intend to address the issue in that context.