Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision of the previous Government to abolish the three posts of the only DEIS rural teachers co-ordinators in County Kerry who cover a total of 15 schools in the county. [9098/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the programme for Government clearly states that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. To that end, we will endeavour to protect frontline services in education. However, I do not intend to revisit the decision of the previous Government to withdraw rural co-ordinator posts. The Deputy will understand that Ireland is effectively now in economic receivership because of the disastrous legacy of the last Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government. The requirements to make expenditure savings and to ensure that staffing numbers remain within the Public Service Employment Control Framework prevent me from re-visiting this decision. The decision to remove the rural co-ordination service from 331 rural DEIS schools is just one of a range of measures, included in the national recovery plan 2011 to 2014, to secure some €24 million in savings in the 2011-12 school year. The service will therefore be discontinued with effect from 31 August 2011. This measure will not affect the provision of HSCL services which remain in 200 post primary and 345 urban primary schools participating in DEIS. DEIS rural primary schools will continue to receive additional capitation funding based on their level of disadvantage, additional funding for schoolbooks, access to the school meals programme, access to numeracy and literacy supports and measures, access to planning supports and access to a range of professional development supports. The set of measures included in the National Recovery Plan 2011 to 2014 impacts on every sector of the public service and will unquestionably lead to significant challenges for schools as well as my Department in the coming years. The major challenge will undoubtedly be to seek improved outcomes for children with fewer resources.