Written answers

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Department of Education and Skills

School Staff

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the extra resources as a matter of urgency to a school (details supplied) to end the current situation where there are 33 pupils to one teacher in a specific class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2001/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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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 schedule currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools.  DEIS Urban Band 1 schools with vertical classes such as the one referred to by the Deputy is allocated mainstream staffing on the basis of an average of 1 teacher for every 22 pupils.

The school referred to by the Deputy has made an enrolment return of 126 for the current school year.  The school has 6 mainstream class teachers, which provides for an average pupil teacher ratio of 1 classroom teacher for every 21 pupils.

The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.).

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