Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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522. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reduce the threshold numbers for small three-teacher and four-teacher schools to pre-budget 2012 levels, that is to 49 and 81; if she will equalise retention and allocation figures, which are out of kilter at 53 to 56 and 83 to 86; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24555/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website.

The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.

These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8km from the next nearest school of the same type.

This package of measures will provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools, recognising the essential social function which small schools can play, especially in isolated communities.

These improvements in the Staffing Schedule for small schools are the only changes that I am making to the staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reduce the threshold numbers for small three-teacher and four-teacher schools for the 2016-2017 academic year to pre-budget 2012 levels, that is to 49 and 81; if she will equalise retention and allocation figures, which are out of kilter at 53 to 56 and 83 to 86; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24556/15]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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524. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reduce the threshold numbers for non-isolated two-teacher schools for the 2016-2017 academic year below 19; if she will equalise retention and allocation figures, which are out of kilter at 19 and 20; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24557/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take questions 523 and 524 together.

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015.

The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.

The staffing process for the 2016/17 school year at individual school level will be initiated early in 2016. It is not possible at this stage to advise on the staffing arrangements for the 2016/17 school year.