Written answers

Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the pupil-teacher ratio in small schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39887/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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While Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools (i.e., schools with up to four classroom teachers), several improvements have been made to the staffing of these schools recently.

In the 2015/16 school year improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also improved appointment and retention thresholds for two-teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction were implemented.

In addition, Budget 2016 announced a 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule with this improvement implemented in the 2016/17 school year.

Budget 2017 announced two adjustments in relation to one teacher schools. Where the school is the sole primary school on an island the school will be able to appoint a second teacher. In relation to single teacher schools generally with an enrolment of 15 or more pupils the school can apply to the staffing appeal board for a second post where the single teacher has children across 6 or more class groups.

Improvements to the staffing schedule announced in Budget 2018 brings the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the most favourable ever seen at primary level and these improvements were introduced in the current school year.

The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including small schools that were affected by the Budget 2012 changes, to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

Any additional improvement in the pupil teacher ratio would have to be considered as part of the next annual budgetary process, alongside the many other demands from the education sector.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance that can be provided to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39930/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard 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 30th September.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

My Department is currently finalising staffing in primary schools for the current school year.

Staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2019/20 school year will be published in February next year. The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the appeal process for staffing in the 2019/20 school year will be published alongside the staffing arrangements next February.

At that stage, schools will be able to establish their staffing for September 2019 and submit a staffing appeal if required.

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