Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the reason class size reductions were only committed to for DEIS band 1 senior schools in budget 2021; her plans to commit funding to reduce class sizes in DEIS band 1 junior and vertical schools; the way in which the investment of €5 million in the DEIS programme will be distributed; her further views on the importance of properly funded DEIS schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40140/20]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all DEIS band 1 schools will be included in the one-point reduction in the pupil teacher ratio promised in budget 2021. [39975/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 84 together.

Under Budget 2021 I announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1, which will also apply to DEIS Rural and Urban Band 2 schools. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already allocated a preferential staffing schedule of 20:1 for schools catering for junior classes only and 24:1 for schools catering for senior classes only. Most DEIS Urban Band 1 schools operate vertical schools with a ratio of 22:1.

As an initial step in addressing this, I have focused on a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1 primary schools and therefore there will be a one point reduction in their staffing schedule from 24:1 to 23:1. The reason for this is due to the fact that the differential has narrowed further following the announcement of an overall reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1.

The total Budget allocation of additional funding of €2 million in 2021, with a full year allocation of €5 million in 2022 provides for further supports to be allocated as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage. My Department continues to support those schools most in need and I am considering options on how best to achieve this. I expect to be able to make an announcement in relation to this shortly.