Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the changes made to the pupil-teacher ratio for two-teacher, three-teacher and four-teacher schools; the subsequent modifications which she introduced recently, as they relate to the number of pupils required to retain a teaching post in these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41904/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools was gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014, as set out in the following table.

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.

The retention figures are reduced to 19, 53, and 83 for 2, 3 and 4 teacher schools respectively. Separately, a threshold of 15 pupils applies for the appointment and retention of the 2nd mainstream classroom teacher for those schools situated 8 km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage/language of instruction.

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.

The Deputy will be aware that I have announced a 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule in the context of Budget 2016. The improved staffing schedule which is available on the Department website will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. The staffing arrangements for all schools for the 2016/17 school year will be published early in 2016. Budget 2012 measure for a phased increase in pupil thresholds for small primary schools: