Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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762. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of administrative principal posts in primary schools that have been suppressed since the removal of the ten teacher rule in favour of 178 children for schools; the amount it would cost to re-instate the ten teacher rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11228/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In recent years, my Department has simplified the teacher allocation and redeployment processes with a view to giving earlier certainty to schools in relation to their teacher allocation and the arrangements for the filling of teaching posts.

The reforms to the teacher allocation process introduced for the 2012/13 school year revised the basis for appointment of Administrative Principal and Administrative Deputy Principal status in primary schools. The criteria for such status is now solely based on pupil numbers rather than the previous approach of mostly on pupil numbers but some also on teacher numbers. Similar revisions applied to DEIS Band 1 and 2 schools which operate at more favourable ratios.

To ease the transition to the entirely enrolment driven arrangements for Administrative Principals and Administrative Deputy Principals, schools adversely affected by the rule change continue to keep their administrative status until there is a change of Principal or Deputy Principal, as appropriate, in the school providing they continue to satisfy the historical rule.

There were 54 primary schools (including DEIS Band 1 & 2 schools) with administrative principal status under the historical rule in the school year 2012/13. Three of these schools have since amalgamated, 25 continue to hold administrative status under the historical rule, 15 now hold administrative status under the revised enrolment based criterion and 11 of the schools no longer hold administrative status.

The relevant enrolment thresholds for the appointment of Administrative Principals and Administrative Deputy Principals for the coming school year are outlined in Appendix B of Circular 0015/2015 which is available on the Department website.