Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Passion, that was going to be the next word out of my mouth.

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McHugh, I would like to thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on staffing in primary schools and, in particular, Scoil Chaoimhín, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, which I know well. The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts are published annually on the Department of Education and Skills website. The key factor 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.

The staffing arrangements for the 2018-2019 school year are set out in circular 0010/2018 which is available on the Department's website. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location. The DEIS urban band I has a more favourable staffing schedule than other schools. DEIS urban band 1 junior schools operate on a general average of one teacher for every 20 pupils. Schools with senior classes with DEIS urban band I status operate on a general average of one teacher for every 24 pupils. Schools such as Scoil Chaoimhín, which is a school with vertical classes, operate on a general average of one teacher for every 22 pupils. Scoil Chaoimhin had an enrolment of 59 pupils on 30 September 2017 which allows for an allocation of a teaching principal and two classroom teachers in the school for the current school year. The enrolment required for the appointment of a fourth teacher in the school is 67 pupils on the previous 30 September.

The staffing arrangements for primary schools include the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds using projected enrolment for the following September, in this case September 2018. Scoil Chaoimhín applied for a developing post and was advised that an enrolment of 74 on 30 September 2018 would be required to retain the developing post which would provide a fourth classroom teacher to the school.On 30 September 2018 the school had an enrolment of 61. As this enrolment did not meet the developing post requirement, the post was suppressed on 26 October 2018 in accordance with the published staffing arrangements.

It is important to note that not only did the school not meet the developing post requirement, its enrolment on 30 September 2018 did not reach the appointment figure required for the fourth teaching post in the school. In addition, with its current enrolment of 61 pupils and three classroom teachers, the school is operating on an average pupil-teacher ratio of one classroom teacher to every 20.33 pupils, which is lower than the average 22:1 which is used when allocating mainstream staffing to DEIS urban band 1 vertical schools.

The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeals board. Scoil Chaoimhín submitted an appeal to the October meeting of the primary staffing appeals board. The appeal was refused by the appeals board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional post under Circular 0010/2018. The primary stalling appeals board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The Minister, Deputy McHugh, thanks the Senator again for the opportunity to outline this process to him and the House.