Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the primary schools in counties Cavan and Monaghan that will be affected by changes in the pupil teacher ratio with effect from September 2014; the impact in relation to the staffing complement such changes will have on each of the schools concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18057/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools was gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. The final phase of the increased enrolment thresholds for small schools takes effect in September, 2014. An appeals process is available to affected schools in the event that they could show that their projected enrolments are sufficient to allow them to retain their classroom teacher in the longer term. Circular 0007/2014 provides the criteria under which schools can make an appeal. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final. No school in County Monaghan will be affected in September 2014 by the Budget 2012 small schools decision.

One school in County Cavan will be affected in September 2014 by the implementation of the final phase of increased enrolment thresholds for small schools introduced by Budget 2012. Two other schools in County Cavan were due to be affected in September 2014 by earlier increases in enrolment thresholds. The schools have the right to appeal in the year that they are affected by the Budget 2012 small schools measure. One of the schools in question submitted an appeal to the February 2014 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal was provisionally upheld and the school will maintain its current staffing numbers for the coming 2014/15 school year (subject to actual enrolments in September 2014). The school has been notified in this regard.

Detailed information requested by the Deputy is as follows.

Schools Which Will Have a Post Suppressed in September 2014 due to Budget 2012

School Which Was Due to Have a Post Suppressed in September 2014 but Successfully Appealed