Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she envisages that teacher retention thresholds for small Gaeltacht schools will be reduced from the 2014-2015 requirement levels of 19 pupils for two teacher, 53 pupils for three teacher and 83 pupils for four teacher schools as part of the new policy on education in Gaeltacht areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19020/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Department launched its "Policy Proposals for Educational Provision in Gaeltacht areas" on 5 May, 2015. The proposals aim to strengthen Irish-medium provision in Gaeltacht schools. They include a range of policy options and measures that could potentially address the challenges facing Gaeltacht schools. Interested parties have been invited to provide their views in relation to the policy options set out in the document. This will be done through a survey and responses are requested by 15 June 2015. It is hoped that organisations and individuals in the Gaeltacht and with an interest in Gaeltacht education will respond to the survey. It is also intended to meet with stakeholder groups during the consultation process. It is expected that there will be a forum in the autumn where the findings of the consultation will be considered.

Such responses will inform the development of a Gaeltacht Education Policy. The level of resourcing required to deliver the agreed policy will be a key consideration when the consultation is concluded. The new Gaeltacht Education policy should be available in 2016.