Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is confident that net capacity exists amongst current teaching staff and Teacher Professional Networks to support newly qualified teachers at second level. [10031/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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For the current academic year the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) has 45 trained mentors at Post Primary level who are registered and active with the Programme. Since September an additional 12 Post Primary teachers have received training as mentors. There are an additional 74 Post Primary teachers currently undergoing training as mentors and another 46 Post Primary teachers awaiting places on the Initial Mentor Training Programmes which is organised by NIPT.

In addition the NIPT has 76 locally based facilitators who deliver the Teacher Induction Workshops through the Education Centre Network to the newly qualified teachers at post primary level and therefore I am satisfied that the resources are in place to support newly qualified teachers (NQTs). These facilitators have received customised training from the NIPT teams. There is no established Teacher Professional Network for mentors. However, developing support for mentors through existing or new TPN structures is something to be considered for the future. The Deputy might wish to note that the Teaching Council is currently engaged in a consultation process on a proposed new Career Entry Professional Programme (CEPP) which includes proposals relating to the role and training of the mentors.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provision has been made to protect minority faith-based schools from forced closures and amalgamations resulting from changes to the staffing schedules. [10036/12]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review budget 2012 cuts in view of the impact that they will have on staffing in rural primary schools, especially on foot of forthcoming school transport changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10018/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 57 together.

There is no increase in the staffing schedule general average of 28:1 for the allocation of classroom teachers at primary level. However, there is a phased increase in the pupil threshold for the allocation of classroom teachers in small primary schools. As part of the Budget decisions announced, 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. All schools are being treated equally irrespective of the type of patronage. 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.

This Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. However, this does not mean that small schools can stand still or never have their staffing levels changed to something that is more affordable and sustainable for these difficult and challenging times. I have already made clear to the House on a number of occasions that school communities should have no reason to feel that there will be a forced closure of their local school. No school closes because it loses a teacher. Schools close because of a loss of pupils. Small primary schools that have had to close in recent years are those that are no longer viable due to falling enrolments. The enrolment in such schools had typically fallen below a total of 8 pupils for two consecutive school years.

My Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the small schools that are losing a classroom post as a result of the budget measure. They won't lose their classroom post if any of them are projecting increased enrolments in September 2012 that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts over the longer term. The detailed arrangements are set out in the Department's Staffing Circular that is now published on my Department's website. In relation to primary school transport, Budget 2012 changes were confined to primary school transport charges. Other changes to the primary scheme commencing this September were announced in Budget 2011 and derive from recommendations in the School Transport Value for Money review. Given the requirement to obtain savings under the four year national recovery plan there is no scope to review these changes.