Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views that second level schools on islands should be treated as a special category for teacher allocations in recognition of the specific issues they experience in terms of pupil numbers, as well as challenges in providing the most basic curriculum; that a different allocation model is necessary; that considering there are five second level island schools nationwide operated by the education and training boards, that a change would not be financially draining; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27715/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. In addition to teacher allocations based largely on pupil teacher ratios, an ex-quota allocation of one teaching post is also allocated to Island schools. In accordance with the published staffing arrangements each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

At post primary level and in accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e., curricular concessions. Short term support is needed to enable the school authority to respond to the identified difficulty in meeting essential curricular commitments to pupils within the normal staffing allocation.

The detail of the curricular concession process is set out with the criteria for the allocation of posts and is also available on the website.

The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are also set out in the published staffing arrangements. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.

The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.