Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Bannon for raising this matter today because it gives me the opportunity to outline the position of the Department of Education and Science. The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year. The number of mainstream posts is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is finalised for a particular school year following discussions with the education partners. The staffing schedule is set out in a circular which issues from the Department to all primary school boards of management. Accordingly, all boards are aware of the staffing allowance for their schools in any school year.

Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are currently 4,000 more primary teachers than in 2002, the average class size in our primary schools is 24 and one teacher is employed for every 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers. Children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas are getting more support than ever before to help them make the most of their time at school. Given the thousands of extra primary teachers who have been hired by this Government, recent years have seen the largest expansion in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Furthermore, this Government is committed to providing even more primary teachers next year to reduce class sizes. All primary schools are staffed on a general rule of at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children. Schools with only one or two teachers have much lower staffing ratios, some having as few as two teachers for 12 pupils, but the general rule is one classroom teacher for every 28 children in the school. Next September, this ratio will decrease to 27 children per classroom teacher. School authorities are requested to ensure the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible, taking into account all relevant contextual factors, such as classroom accommodation and fluctuating enrolment. In particular, school authorities should ensure an equitable distribution of pupils in mainstream classes and keep to a minimum the differential between the largest and smallest classes.

A further initiative which has been of direct benefit to primary schools has been the change in the criteria for developing schools. For the current school year, the threshold for getting a developing school post was reduced specifically to help schools which are experiencing large annual increases in enrolments. More than 280 such posts were sanctioned in the 2006-07 school year, compared to 170 in 2005-06. The school to which the Senator referred had an enrolment on 30 September 2005 of 90 pupils, which warranted staffing for the 2006-07 school year of a principal and three mainstream teachers. The school also has the services of one temporary language support teacher and one permanent learning support and resource teacher. The board of management has submitted a report indicating that there were 112 pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September 2006. The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2007-08 school year will be determined based on that figure and by reference to the staffing schedule for the 2007-08 school year. It is expected that this staffing schedule will issue to all primary schools before the end of March 2007.

To ensure openness in the teacher allocation system at primary level, an independent appeals board is now in place to decide on any appeals on mainstream staffing. This primary staffing appeals board has been in place since August 2002. I am sure the Senator will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in the operation of the independent appeals board.

The improvements that have been made in school staffing in recent years are absolutely unparalleled but this Government is determined to go even further, and the 2007 Estimates make provision for an additional 800 primary teachers. About 500 of these will be classroom teachers, which is evidence of our commitment to reduce class sizes. I assure the Senator this Government will continue to prioritise further improvements in school staffing and continue to focus on measures to improve the quality of education in primary schools to ensure increased resources lead to better outcomes for our children.