Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money that has been saved by the changes in the pupil-teacher ratio in the 12-month period between February 2013 to February 2014; if he will indicate the way in which these savings were used; his proposals to reverse the changes introduced in the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17081/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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. An appeals process is available to small schools which have had their staff number reduced as a result of the budget measure. A school with four classroom teachers or less which is losing a teacher or failed to gain an additional teacher as a result of the Budget 2012 measure can submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Circular 0007/2014 provides the criteria under which schools can make an appeal. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The time period referred to by the Deputy in relation to savings from this budget measure straddles two school years, 2012/13 and 2013/14. The savings achieved in the 2012/13 school year (September, 2012 - August, 2013) was circa €3.7m and in the 2013/14 school year (September, 2013 - September, 2014) was circa €7m.

Funding saved by this measure has been used to cover the costs of additional teachers required for demographics and pupils with special needs.

Our current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by the Department in a value for money (VFM) review. This review took account of the ethos of schools and the locations of small schools relative to other schools of a similar type. I am currently considering this review in consultation with my Government colleagues and I intend to publish the report on completion of this consideration process.