Written answers

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Department of Education and Skills

School Staffing

5:00 pm

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 85: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the impact budget 2012 will have on a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5969/12]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 112: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how the new cost-cutting plans in education will affect schools in County Roscommon and County Leitrim; the number of schools that will lose a teacher in County Roscommon as a result of the cost-cutting plans; the number of schools that will lose a teacher in County Leitrim; if schools will be amalgamated in the Roscommon and Leitrim area; if the new measure will affect every school nationwide which has under 50 pupils; if the sustainability and regeneration of small rural schools have a role in his present cost-cutting plans; and if he will assure parents, teachers and families that their quality and standard of education will not be jeopardised due to unrealistic student-teacher ratios and extra burdens on principals. [6154/12]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 112 together.

My Department's focus is on implementing the staffing arrangements for the coming school year and I do not propose to divert scarce staffing resources to deal with individual queries from Deputies. My Department will be notifying schools in the coming weeks of the new staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year. At a time of great strain in our public finances, we have to ensure that the very valuable but limited resources available for the education system are used in the best way possible.

The staffing schedule at primary level disproportionately benefits small primary schools. It is worth noting that we have 3,200 primary schools across Ireland. Over two thirds of those schools have more than 86 pupils and, as a result, have far higher average class sizes than all of the schools affected by this measure. For example a two teacher school with 32 pupils has an average class size of 1 teacher for sixteen pupils. In contrast, a typical ten teacher school with 272 pupils has an average class size of 27.2 pupils. It is important to retain a sense of perspective and balance when discussing this matter and to realise the exceptionally favourable supports my Department will continue to provide for small schools.

For that reason, as part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools will be gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. Even when all of these phased increases are implemented, the threshold for small schools will still be significantly lower than the minimum of 28 pupils that was required for the appointment of a second teacher in schools prior to the mid-1990s.

The phasing of these measures can provide the schools concerned with time to consider the potential for amalgamation with other schools where this is feasible. If amalgamations take place, they will be voluntary and follow decisions taken by local communities and not by my Department.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.