Written answers

Tuesday, 2 December 2008

Department of Education and Science

School Staffing

9:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 445: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43567/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 449: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43571/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 450: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43572/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 452: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43574/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 453: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6w; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43575/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 456: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43578/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 457: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6w; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43579/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 458: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43580/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 459: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6w; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43581/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 460: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6w; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43582/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 461: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43583/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 445, 449, 450, 452, 453, 456 to 461, inclusive, together.

The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were included in the Budget day announcements. Even with the budget measures in place there will still be a significantly increased borrowing requirement in 2009.

My Department will be advising individual schools in the normal way in relation to their staffing and grant allocations. The preparatory work for this has commenced with the processing of enrolment data that has been received from schools. The staffing allocation processes including notification to schools will commence early in the New Year. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. In addition to the mainstream classroom teachers my Department also allocates teaching resources to schools for special needs and language support. The final allocation to a school is also a function of the operation of the redeployment panels which provide for the retention of a teacher in an existing school if a new post is not available within the agreed terms of the scheme.

I have no difficulty in setting out for this House or for the public generally the overall changes on aggregate teacher numbers or on grant levels in schools for the 2009/10 school year. I will do this when the allocation processes have been completed. Furthermore the staffing schedule will be published and it is a transparent and clear way of ensuring that schools are treated consistently and fairly and know where they stand.

At this time the priority for my Department within the resources available to it is to carry out those processes in a timely manner. Diverting resources in order to compile either historic information or to create staffing or funding profiles for all of the individual schools requested by the Deputy, information which at this time could only be speculative, could not be justified and would in fact impede the process.

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 446: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following Budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43568/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 447: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following Budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43569/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 448: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following Budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 10; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43570/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following Budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43573/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 454: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following Budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43576/08]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 455: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes following Budget 2009 to the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; the reduction in the grants to the school for the forthcoming year [i]vis-À-vis[/i] the funding level in 2007-08; the educational schemes for which support has been cut for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43577/08]

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 474: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has to meet the problems which are being faced by a secondary school (details supplied) in County Waterford arising from the budget 2009 cuts in education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43627/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 to 448, inclusive, 451, 454, 455 and 474 together.

The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Education while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level were included in the Budget day announcements. Even with the Budget measures in place there will still be a significantly increased borrowing requirement in 2009.

My Department will be advising individual schools in the normal way in relation to their staffing and grant allocations. The preparatory work for this has commenced with the processing of enrolment data that has been received from schools. The staffing allocation processes including notification to schools will commence early in the New Year. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. In addition to the mainstream classroom teachers my Department also allocates teaching resources to schools for special needs and language support. The final allocation to a school is also a function of the operation of the redeployment panels which provide for the retention of a teacher in an existing school if a new post is not available within the agreed terms of the scheme.

I have no difficulty in setting out for this House or for the public generally the overall changes on aggregate teacher numbers or on grant levels in schools for the 2009/10 school year. I will do this when the allocation processes have been completed. Furthermore the staffing schedule will be published and it is a transparent and clear way of ensuring that schools are treated consistently and fairly and know where they stand. At this time the priority for my Department within the resources available to it is to carry out those processes in a timely manner. Diverting resources in order to compile either historic information or to create staffing or funding profiles for all of the individual schools requested by the Deputies, information which at this time could only be speculative, could not be justified and would in fact impede the process.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.