Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse, partially, if not fully, the small school pupil requirement thresholds announced in budget 2012 in view of the improving public finances and the severe negative impact the new thresholds are having on small rural communities in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3265/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. In the budget it was not possible to provide for extra teaching posts that would change the staffing schedule for primary schools, including small schools.The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and will continue to be so. 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. All public servants are being asked to do more with less and the teachers in our small schools cannot be exempt from this requirement.

Since becoming Minister each of the education partners that I have met have indicated their own set of priorities. In the school sector these priorities include school leadership, pay restoration, reductions in pupil-teacher ratios, increases to capitation, and the restoration of ex-quota guidance counsellors in schools. Outside of the schools sector, the list of demands includes funding of third level, investment in early years and investment in technology. It is not, and never will be, possible to satisfy all of the demands of the education system at one time. Hence the need to identify priorities for consideration as part of future budgets and as our economy recovers.