Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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490. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is committed to tackling educational disadvantage as per her press release of 1 March 2021 (details supplied); if so, if she will reverse the decision taken to reduce the staffing numbers for the next academic year at a school; and if not, the reason the school will lose two members of staff at a time when educational support is most needed by its students. [12607/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. Budget 2021 provided for a one point improvement to the staffing schedule and introduced new retention levels for all schools. I also recently announced a package of measures, including changes to staffing schedule, and additional funding for the school completion programme to tackle educational disadvantage in DEIS schools.

The newly revised staffing schedule for the 2021/22 school year will be published shortly. It is at that stage that schools will be able to establish their staffing for the coming September.