Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has had dialogue with school authorities throughout the country which may be affected by a reduction in teacher numbers, resulting in possible school closures; if provision can be made to retain such schools by way of amalgamation or other processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10524/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which discussion have taken place with the various school authorities throughout County Kildare with a view to ensuring that any reduction in teacher numbers does not materially affect the viability of the schools or quality of education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10526/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he can make provision to prevent the closure of smaller schools throughout the country which might be under threat of closure arising from the ongoing economic situation and commitments previously entered into in the memorandum of understanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10532/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 102 and 108 together.

A key part of the Government's overall budgetary strategy is a requirement to reduce the public sector payroll. This will continue to be the case until we close the gap between what we spend as a country and what we take in through taxes. Given that one third of all public sector employees work in the Education sector it is simply not possible to completely exempt staffing levels in education from the Government's need to reduce expenditure.

The Government has prioritised, as best as possible, the filling of front-line posts in the Education sector within the constraints of the Employment Control Framework. For example, schools are permitted to fill teaching vacancies that arise within their approved staffing allocations.

The phasing of the budget measure whereby 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 can provide the schools concerned with time to consider the potential for amalgamation with other schools where this is feasible. However I want to emphasise that no small schools will be forcibly closed by my Department and, if amalgamations do 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.

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.