Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to again raise this particular issue. I acknowledge the Minister's presence in the Chamber to address it. I am talking about three schools, two of which are jointly located and a third that is some miles distant from that group. The schools that are jointly located are second level schools and the one by itself, in a place called Kilshanroe-Carbury, is a national school. The problem is that the national school is about to lose a teacher. It had five teachers but will end up with four. The difficulty is it is a small school and the numbers have burgeoned since last year. It barely had the numbers with just 107 pupils on the roll in September 2021. This year, however, it already has 112 pupils. This will now place an extra burden on the teachers, especially their ability to give of their best in a demanding situation. There is at least one situation whereby two children with autism will have to share a classroom with more than 30 children, which is not suitable for the other children or those who require a special autism unit. No such unit is available in the area.

I understand the usual appeal has been made in this particular case but it has been refused. In view of the fact that children with autism are involved, as is the loss of a teacher who will be replaced again next year, I do not see the logic in it. The Minister has vast experience in this particular area. It goes without saying she would be equally knowledgeable and, it is to be hoped, sympathetic to reviewing the issue once again as it affects the school, with a view to a favourable outcome.

Two second level schools are located on the same Maynooth campus. It was a ground-breaking, and long and dedicated, effort on the part of parents, boards of management, etc. when they sought to place both schools on the same site. They share recreational and many other facilities. It is a big school campus. Approximately 2,000 students attend both schools.

It is important to note that, whatever indications were given during the initial negotiations about an extra teacher in line with the criterion of 1.5, a teacher is about to be lost as well. This is a high-density area with a rapidly growing population. Following the extensive negotiations between the parents, boards of management and previous Ministers, an indication was given that there would be a derogation so as to ensure that there would be an extra teacher, but the schools will lose a teacher in the current year.

The pressures are obvious, including population size and the need to cater for so many students at the one location, which the schools are doing successfully. The pressures merit further evaluation by the Minister. I do not want to tell her, or suggest to her, how she should do her job - she is well versed in this area - but I ask that she give full consideration to the question.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline for the House the position on staffing in schools, particularly the schools referred to by the Deputy.

The key factors for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September, those being the October returns. Previous budgets of 2016 and 2018 improved the staffing schedule. Budget 2021 implemented a reduction of one point for the 2021-22 school year so that primary schools were allocated teaching posts on an average basis of one classroom teacher for every 25 pupils. Budget 2022 progressed the ongoing major investment in our primary education sector by providing a further reduction of one point for the 2022-23 school year so that primary schools would be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of one classroom teacher for every 24 pupils in September 2022. This brings the staffing schedule to a further new historical low for primary schools. Lower thresholds apply to DEIS urban band 1 schools. In addition, there has been a reduction of three points in the retention schedule, which has helped schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria. The primary school referred to by the Deputy has had its appeal considered by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and has been informed that it will retain its current staffing for the 2022-23 school year, pending - this point is important - confirmation that the school meets the required enrolment threshold in September.

Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by the Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolments. The Department provides a staffing allocation to each education and training board, ETB, based on the overall enrolment of the schools within the ETB. The distribution of this staffing allocation is a matter for the chief executive officer, CEO, of the ETB based on the overall enrolment of the schools within the ETB.

The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department's website. In accordance with the published staffing arrangements, each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. Where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, the Department considers applications for additional short-term support, for example, curricular concessions as the case arises. This concession is available as a short-term support to enable essential curricular provision to continue.

The allocation processes include appellate mechanisms under which schools and ETBs can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The ETB can submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeal board, which was established specifically to adjudicate on appeals on staffing allocations in post-primary schools. The Post-Primary Appeals Board operates independently of the Department.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. I am sure that the criteria applicable to Kilshanroe will be followed up on immediately.

The question on the Maynooth post-primary schools relates to previous Ministers, who made promises to the two schools because of the unique nature of their co-location, the large number of students being catered for and the fact that the previous school was being made available for other uses, which will come about in due course and be a matter for further discussion.

The Minister's reply underlines her own knowledge of the issue. I am sure that the school authorities on the campus on Moyglare Road will pursue it through the appropriate channels. The decision was not made by the Kildare and Wicklow ETB, KWETB, but by previous Ministers. They made it for an obvious reason, that being, the challenges facing the schools in bringing so many students together when sites were scarce. They did it, and all credit goes to all involved. With the KWETB, perhaps the Minister, using her good offices, might encourage the bringing about of the commitment that was entered into previously.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing commitment to, and interest in, all areas pertaining to education, particularly these cases.

Regarding the primary school, I have outlined that the application has been successful, pending the 30 September enrolment numbers. Regarding the campus and the post-primary schools, the Department provides the staffing allocation to each ETB on the basis of the overall enrolment of students within schools in the board's charge. Responsibility for the distribution of that staffing allocation falls upon the shoulders of the ETB's CEO.

Where there may be a specific shortfall and a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments for the students within its approved allocation, the Department considers applications for additional short-term support. This concession is available to enable the continuation of essential curricular provision. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools and ETBs can appeal against the allocations due to them under the staffing schedules. The ETB is free to submit an appeal under the criteria to the independent appeals board if it is the ETB's opinion that it is not in a position in a particular school to provide the curricular demands. It is within the remit of the ETB to do that, and the appeals board, which operates independently of the Department, gives consideration to all cases that are brought to its attention.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister.