Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the House.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for seeing the importance of this Commencement matter and for allowing it to be discussed. I really appreciate that.

I thank the Minister of State for being here to speak about this national school issue. Keadue National School in County Roscommon is a two-teacher school with a current enrolment of 48 pupils. The pupil enrolment has doubled in the past two years, which is great. The school is, however, now at crisis stage in terms of staffing. The school made an application to the Department of Education under the projected enrolment criteria and was sanctioned a third mainstream teacher in a fixed-term capacity until 27 October. The school is currently two pupils short of the requirement to meet the criteria, as of 30 September.

The school has a number of Ukrainian pupils, some of whom are travelling from the accommodation centre in the Lough Allen Hotel, which is not far down the road from the school. The school has been recently contacted by the centre to advise that further families are coming to the hotel and will be seeking school places for the children in these facilities. Essentially, it is expected that the school will exceed an enrolment of 50 pupils in the coming weeks. The school has the capacity to accommodate a third mainstream class teacher. They have the additional room and they have it ready for use immediately. That is a big bonus.

At present they have 22 children from junior infants to second class in one room, which is four classes in one room - junior infants, senior infants, first class and second class. Then there are 26 pupils from third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes. That is a lot. The classrooms are that of a traditional two-teacher school and they are not large rooms by any standards. The current pupil-teacher numbers pose a serious health and safety concern for staff and pupils.

Among these large numbers in both overcrowded classrooms are a number of children with complex needs who are not able to function on any level because of the sheer volume of pupils in the rooms and the demands imposed on the class teachers to try to cover the curriculum. I have grave concerns for pupil well-being and staff well-being in those conditions, and I am concerned that burnout is a real threat in the school at present.

A number of appeals have been submitted to the primary staffing appeals board in absolute desperation to secure a third permanent mainstream teacher. Projected figures for the years ahead show that the school is continuing to grow rapidly. An application has been made to the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to open an autism spectrum disorder class at the school, such is the level of need within the school at present. The school will probably be pushing an open door with that unit because the Government, the Department and the Minister have been very focused on this.

I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure a third permanent mainstream class teacher is sanctioned at the school as a matter of urgency. I ask him to bring this matter back to the Minister for Education. I hope to speak to the Minister this evening. It is urgent that we have this matter on the floor of the House today. I appreciate the comments the Minister of State will now make on this matter.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist. I thank the Senator for bringing to our attention the concerns of Keadue National School in County Roscommon.

Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government. 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. In the three previous budgets, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, reduced the pupil-teacher ratios significantly in primary schools, which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of one classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level in the history of the State.

Schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment. The school referred to by the Senator was allocated an additional temporary teaching post on this basis for September and October 2023. The enrolment required to retain the post for the remainder of the year was 50 pupils. The school's actual enrolment in September was 48 and the temporary post was to be suppressed at the end of October, but I note the figures provided by the Senator this morning.

The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria, including one specifically aimed at small schools such as the school referred to by the Senator. The school referred to by the Senator has submitted an appeal to the October meeting of the primary staffing appeals board, requesting to retain the additional post under the small schools criteria. The appeal will be considered at the appeals board meeting later this week and the school will be notified of the decision. The primary staffing appeals board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The Senator referred to the application made to the local SENO in respect of the school. SENOs are responsible for defined geographic areas where they plan, co-ordinate and review the provision of additional education supports to schools. SENOs can be contacted directly using the contact details available on the NCSE’s website. If the Senator’s question refers to special needs assistant, SNA, supports, I remind him that the NCSE has the responsibility for planning and co-ordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. The NCSE has published the SNA allocations for the 2023-24 school year. A school can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students, which is what the Senator seems to be saying this morning. I certainly will take these matters back to the Minister for Education on the Senator's behalf.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. After I compiled the figures I gave him, I received a telephone call to say there is even further good news in that a family is moving into the village with three children eligible to attend the national school. I did not include them in my figures. That family will not be resident in the village for approximately five weeks. I welcome the decision to which the Minister of State referred. It is really important that when that decision is implemented, which may be this week or next, we get a third teacher for Keadue National School. I will pursue the issue in regard to special needs provision. In many respects, as I said, we are pushing at an open door on this matter with the Department and the Government.

In the Minister of State's capacity as having responsibility for heritage, I invite him to visit the beautiful village of Keadue, which is a national, regional and many times local winner in the Tidy Towns competition. It is a most beautiful village and the school is part of all that goes on there and is important for the whole community. There is a lot of architecture and heritage around the place as well as biodiversity around the school.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would be more than happy to take the Senator up on his invitation. I was in Roscommon until late last evening. It is a county I love dearly and I would be more than happy to visit Keadue at some point if the Senator sends me an invitation.

The difference a new family can make in a community is crucial in that it may achieve the critical point whereby an additional one or two pupils are needed to attain the extra teaching and other supports for a school. Ukrainian families coming into rural communities have bolstered the numbers in many rural schools and given them that critical mass. That is hugely welcome. The Minister has provided in her response a very strong pathway forward. I hope the response is positive for Keadue National School. I am more than happy to bring the matter to her attention.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome to the Public Gallery the students from Rosary College in Crumlin who are on a school tour. I thank them for being here and hope they have an educational, positive and good time in Leinster House.