Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a social impact assessment has been carried out on the effect of increased class sizes in DEIS band 2 schools form September. [2815/12]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that will be used to determine the allocation of alleviation measures to DEIS band 2 schools that are deemed worthy of continued extra support; by judging on a case-by-case basis, is he inclined to continue top up allocations where they can be proven to have had a positive impact. [2816/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

Conscious of the concerns of some schools that will be adversely affected by the budget measures in relation to the withdrawal of certain posts under previous disadvantage schemes, I announced in the house last Wednesday that I have asked my Department to report to me in four weeks on the impact of the withdrawal of posts under these older schemes on DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools. I will then consider their position in the context of the staffing allocations due to issue to all schools. However, it is important to note that any changes to this measure will require alternative compensatory savings measures within the primary schools budget. A very difficult situation exists in the Education sector to find savings and control the increase in public sector numbers considering that one third of all public sector employees work in the education sector and unlike other countries, our school going population is rising rapidly. It is important to note that a key aspect of the EU/IMF Programme of Support and Ireland's overall budgetary strategy is a requirement to reduce the public sector payroll and remain within the new climate of fixed ceilings on teacher numbers.