Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to outline to the House the position on teaching resources for post-primary schools. My colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, could not attend and she sends her apologies. I am happy to give feedback on her behalf.

Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school management annually and are available on the Department's website. The teacher allocation for all schools includes provision for the learning and language support needs of the pupils in them. I recognise that teacher allocations set the parameters in respect to the number of subjects on offer in schools. However, the deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and, ultimately, the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities. Sharing arrangements between post-primary schools can help to ensure the range of subjects available to pupils is maximised. The Senator suggested one school for this. I am not sure whether the schools to which she referred have explored the option of sharing resources but the option is open to them. This, however, is usually co-ordinated at school level and it is not dictated to them by the Department.

If schools have difficulties with providing individual subjects - for example, because of the retirement of a teacher in one of the subjects concerned, short-term support is provided through the curricular concessions process to enable them to meet their curricular needs. The detail of this process is set out with the criteria for the allocation of posts and is also available on the Department website. The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The appeals board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

It is important to note that additional teaching resources have been provided to schools to cater for increased demographics and also to provide for pupils with special needs. During the past two years, teacher numbers have increased by approximately 2,300. Budget 2015 includes provision for 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs in our schools in the coming school year. This is a significant investment at a time of scarce resources. The challenge for all our schools is to maximise what is achieved with the resources that are provided to them and to cover as many subjects as possible. The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are experiencing economic growth. A continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools, which could bring about an improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio, class size, support for classroom teachers and increased subject choice.

While there has been a moratorium on recruitment across other sectors in the public service, this has not applied to teaching, which shows the commitment this Government has to educating our future generations. The main priority for any additional resources for the foreseeable future will be to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system, which the Senator has raised in the House on many occasions. We are determined that education should be prioritised for investment as the recovery in our economy strengthens.

Subject choice is up to each school locally. Perhaps the Senator might inquire if they have communicated among themselves to provide a solution. I will raise the issue with the Minister and pass on the solution she has suggested as well.