Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence regarding a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7766/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The staffing process for the 2017/18 school year is currently underway in the Department and the details in relation to same will be published shortly on my Department's website. 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 operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. It 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.

The staffing arrangements includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September.  In the current school year, three developing posts were provisionally sanctioned to the school referred to by the Deputy.  The enrolment achieved by the school on 30 September 2016 was sufficient to retain two of these posts.  The school submitted a staffing appeal to the October 2016 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.  This appeal was refused on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional post under the terms of the published staffing arrangements.  The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.

The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. Depending on the circumstances of the school, e.g. fluctuating enrolment, accommodation available, there may be a variation in the size of the classes in the school.  School authorities are requested to ensure that the number of pupils in any one class is kept as low as possible, taking into account all of the above factors.  

Given that the staffing schedule operates to a general average of one classroom teacher for every 27 pupils, if a school has a large class it generally also has a small class.