Written answers

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Department of Education and Skills

School Staffing

4:00 pm

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way the undermining of DEIS band 2, by re-allocating teachers away from these schools to other schools, will contribute to the economic regeneration of the State, as he has claimed this in response to queries from parents in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24. [2820/12]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to be in a position to review the impact of the budget 2012 throughout the educational sector with particular reference to the need to provide for the most sensitive and vulnerable areas in view of the necessity to retain the integrity and structure of education even in times of economic difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2834/12]

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason DEIS band 2 category does not appear on the teacher allocation staffing schedule 2012-2013 for primary schools. [2821/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 37 and 36 together.

The requirement to find savings and control the increase in public sector numbers and remain within the new climate of fixed ceilings on teacher numbers, which is a key aspect of the EU/IMF Programme of Support and Ireland's overall budgetary strategy, is particularly challenging for my Department.

Providing for increased enrolments is a key priority but making some adjustment to teacher numbers is unavoidable given the budgetary constraints. The net impact on overall teacher numbers in our schools has been minimised to the greatest extent possible.

The reason DEIS Band 2 schools are not specifically mentioned in the Teacher Allocation Staffing Schedule is because they are entitled to the same pupil teacher ratio as all other mainstream schools. This has always been the case. The Deputy will be aware that while DEIS Band 2 schools have the same pupil teacher ratio as other mainstream schools, they receive additional supports under the DEIS scheme that are not offered to mainstream schools.

The announcement I made on the 11th January in relation to my Department reporting to me within four weeks refers only to the impact of the withdrawal of certain posts allocated under previous disadvantaged schemes in DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools.

This report will detail the facts for each individual school affected by this measure, applying the most up to date enrolments for September 2011. In addition, the report will take account of the net effect of a range of factors on teacher allocations in these schools, for example increasing and decreasing enrolments and the reforms to the existing teacher allocations process, all of which will determine the staffing requirement for these schools for 2012/13 school year.

It is only when this report is made available to me that I will be in a position to make a decision on the final outcome for the individual schools involved.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in further detail the structure of the review to be carried out by him into the effect of the removal of legacy DEIS posts on a case by case basis; the way this review will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2910/12]

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline and publish the terms of reference for the DEIS schools review under budget 2012. [2953/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 32 together.

I announced in the house on 11th January that my Department will be reporting to me within four weeks on the impact of the withdrawal of certain posts allocated under previous disadvantaged schemes in DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools, following concerns raised by some schools with me that will be adversely affected by these budget measures.

This report will detail the facts for each individual school affected by this measure, applying the most up to date enrolments for September 2011. In addition, the report will take account of the net effect of a range of factors on teacher allocations in these schools, for example increasing and decreasing enrolments and the reforms to the existing teacher allocations process, all of which will determine the staffing requirement for these schools for 2012/13 school year.

It is only when this report is made available to me that I will be in a position to make a decision on the final outcome for the individual schools involved.

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