Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the phased adjustment proposed to staffing schedules for one, two, three and four teacher schools with fewer than 86 pupils in the 2012 budget; and the way this will impact on the pupil teacher ratios of such schools. [39536/11]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the impact on each primary school in County Mayo of the phased adjustments to staffing schedules in one, two, three and four teacher schools; if he will outline same on a school by school basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39747/11]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the impact on each primary school in County Sligo of the phased adjustments to staffing schedules in one, two, three and four teacher schools; if he will outline same on a school by school basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39750/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline by county the name and address of each primary school whose staffing schedule may be adjusted due to his decision to introduce phased adjustments from 2012-2013 to staffing schedules for one, two, three and four teacher schools. [40008/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that will be affected in 2012 by the decision to introduce phased adjustments from 2012-2013 to staffing schedules for one, two, three and four teacher schools. [40009/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will elaborate on his statement that the adjustment to the staffing levels for one, two, three and four teacher schools is a measure that is being phased in to encourage small schools to assess their options for amalgamation.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40010/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 139, 142, 168 to 170, inclusive together.

As part of the Budget decisions announced last week, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a teaching post in small primary schools will be gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. The schools concerned are those with four or less classroom teachers. The pupil thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools (disadvantage schools) are not as high as they reflect the newly introduced 22:1 staffing schedule. Reduced pupil thresholds will continue to apply in respect of schools that are the only primary school on an island. It is important to emphasise that no small schools will be closed due to the changes that have been announced.

The phased adjustment is estimated to yield a saving of 250 teaching posts over the next three years, with 100 of these posts being removed in 2012/13 school year. The resulting surplus teachers will be redeployed to vacancies in other neighbouring schools in accordance with the redeployment arrangements.

The phasing of these measures provides the schools concerned with time to consider the potential for amalgamation with other schools where this is feasible. We have a very significant number of small schools across the country. Due to the way the staffing schedule works at present, small primary schools benefit from significantly lower pupil teacher ratios than larger primary schools. While the staffing schedule operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils the ratios for small schools are significantly better. This is particularly evident for schools that are at or just above the minimum pupil thresholds for the appointment of classroom teachers. For example, the minimum pupil threshold for the appointment of the second teacher in a 2-teacher school is currently 12 pupils. This means that this school has an average of 6 pupils in each of its 2 classes. The changes that we are introducing will mean that in September 2012 a minimum of 14 pupils will be required for the appointment of the second teacher in the 2 teacher school. The subsequent increases in September 2013 and September 2014 will increase this minimum pupil threshold to 20 pupils. Even when all of these phased increases are implemented the threshold will still be significantly lower than the minimum of 28 pupils that were required for the appointment of the second teacher in schools prior to the mid 1990's.

The existing staffing schedule also acts as a disincentive for small schools to consider amalgamation. We have to ensure that the very valuable but limited resources we have available in the system are used in the best and fairest way across the whole system. It is important to emphasise that no small schools will be closed due to the changes that have been announced. It is not necessarily the case that capital investment would be required if schools decided to amalgamate - particularly with the relatively small number of pupils in these schools. All areas of public spending have had to experience some adjustment given the scale of our economic crisis. Despite this challenge, the Government has sought to do this in as fair a way as possible.