Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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431. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the commitment will be reaffirmed not to reduce teacher numbers in schools (details supplied) for the lifetime of Tascfhórsa Uíbh Ráthaigh; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14183/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

There is no change to the staffing of the schools concerned for the 2020/21 school year.

The unique challenges facing Gaeltacht schools and their importance in the maintenance of Irish as the main language of Gaeltacht communities is recognised. To support the delivery of high quality Irish-medium education in Gaeltacht schools, the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme was launched in 2017 as part of the overall implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022. Under the terms of the Scheme, a package of additional targeted supports is being provided to these schools from September 2018 to support the delivery of high-quality Irish-medium education. These additional supports include:

- access to an annual grant of €1200 grant for the purchase of Irish-medium teaching resources

- additional Irish-language support teaching hours based on school enrolment

- additional continuing professional development for teachers, delivered by COGG

- additional Inspectorate support via advisory visits to support schools in meeting their targets in the implementation of Irish-language-based criteria.

Schools in the Scheme have also been permitted to form clusters to create temporary full-time posts by combining part-time Irish language support hours. From 2019 schools in the Scheme had the option to combine part-time Irish language support hours with special education teaching hours to create temporary full-time posts, provided that teachers selected had a high level of proficiency in the Irish language and an understanding of immersion education, so that they could fulfil the roles, as appropriate.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be allowed flexibility to deal practically with an exceptional staffing requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14184/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers is the mechanism used to fill teaching posts and is key to the ability of the Department to manage within its payroll budget. The redeployment panels are currently transacting and schools are filling teaching vacancies for the 2020/21 school year.

While the redeployment of surplus teachers to permanent teaching posts is the first mechanism used to fill teaching vacancies, it is the case that there is not always sufficient permanent vacancies available for all teachers on the redeployment panel. In such circumstances, the redeployment arrangements set out that surplus permanent/CID holding teachers may be assigned to a year long fixed-term position. Schools are instructed that they may not fill a teaching vacancy by any other means until the Department is satisfied that the vacancy is not required for the redeployment of a teacher on the Main Panel.

The school referred to by the Deputy has a fixed-term position available for the coming school year and has been advised by my Department that it is required for the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher on the Main Panel.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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433. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be permitted to retain its current number of teachers in the 2020/2021 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14205/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am very conscious of the staffing schedule and the need to prioritise teacher allocations in primary schools given their vital role in communities around the country. I am looking at how best to make further progress in reducing the primary teacher ratio in the context of the Programme for Government implementation.

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 staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. The appeal received from the school referred to by the Deputy has been refused by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal do not warrant a departure from the staffing schedule. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board is independent of the Department and its decision is final.