John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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268. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the issue of two super sized classes at a school (details supplied); if he will engage with the school to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35826/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department 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 irrespective of location.

The school referred to by the Deputy had an enrolment of 167 on 30th September 2017.  This provides for a mainstream staffing of Principal and 5 classroom teachers for the 2018/19 school year.  The school will also have 1 full-time and 1 shared Special Education Teachers.

The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The school submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its May 2018 meeting under the Exceptional Accommodation Difficulties criteria. The appeal was refused by the Appeals Board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional post under Circular 0010/2018.  The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

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.). School authorities are also requested, where possible, to use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes. Given that the staffing schedule operates to a general average of one classroom teacher for every 26 pupils, if a school has a large class it generally also has a small class.