Written answers

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Department of Education and Skills

School Staff

Photo of John LahartJohn Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied) which is set to lose a teacher for the 2020-2021 academic year; if the retention of a teacher in the school will be supported in order to keep class sizes to the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10757/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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 arrangements for the 2020/21 school year are available in Circular 18/2020, which is published on the Department website.

The staffing schedule currently operates at a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.

There will be no change to the mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy in the 2020/21 school year

The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The 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.

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