Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Renua Ireland)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set down the number of pupils required to gain an extra teacher; if this requirement is greater in smaller schools with a teacher principal rather than in larger schools with an administrative principal; if so, the reason this is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34923/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The staffing arrangements for the 2015/2016 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is available on the website. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools.

The Deputy will be aware that I announced some improvements in the staffing schedule for small primary schools in February 2015. These changes were introduced for the 2015/16 school year to better support the sustainability of small schools and particularly those in isolated areas.

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 8 km 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.

Under the published staffing arrangements for the current school year a principal teacher attains administrative status on a minimum enrolment of 178 pupils (Principal plus 7 classroom teachers) on 30 September 2014.