Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an assessment of the impact that changes to pupil-teacher ratios is having on class numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8909/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools.The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data for each school. The most recent statistics are for the 2012/13 school year. The national average class size at primary level is 24.7 pupils. However, with over 20,800 classes in over 3,100 primary schools throughout the country there will always be variations in class sizes at individual school level. My Department's guidance to local school management is that such variations should be kept to the minimum.

The Deputy will be aware that as part of the Budget 2012 decisions, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools with four teachers or less. The first phase of the budget measure took effect from September 2012. The final phase of the budget measure takes effect from September 2014. A total of 122 schools were due to lose a classroom teacher (73 in the 2012/13 school year and 49 in the 2013/14 school year) as a result of the implementation of this budget measure. The appeals process reduced these losses to 43 in the 2012/13 school year and 32 in the 2013/14 school year. A total of 53 schools were due not to gain a classroom teacher (21 in 2012/13 and 32 in the 2013/14 school year). The appeals process reduced this figure to 42 schools. The list of these schools is below.

The allocation process for the 2014/15 school year is currently underway. Early indications are that 34 primary schools are due to lose a classroom teacher for the 2014/15 school year and 6 primary schools will not gain a classroom teacher as a consequence of the implementation of the final phase of the Budget 2012 measure. These figures are preliminary at this stage and would be expected to reduce following the appeals process. The final position will be known in the Autumn.

Schools That Lost A Post in 2012/13 School Year

Schools That Did Not Gain A Post in 2013/14 School Year