Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any changes planned in the medium to long term to adjust the minimum number of pupils required either up or down to maintain a two-teacher school that currently has 19 pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19681/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes at primary level and to commencing a review within three months of teacher appointment thresholds in small schools with four teachers or less.

The primary staffing schedule currently operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils.

Budget 2016 provides for a one point adjustment to the staffing allocation to primary schools, which will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. This will see the primary staffing schedule operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils. Lower thresholds apply for DEIS Band 1 schools. Staffing arrangements for the 2016/17 school year are available in Circular 0007/2016, which is published on the Department website.

In the next Budget I will consider the best approach to further meeting commitments in the Programme for Government.