Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if schools will still lose a teacher in September 2021 given the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20931/21]

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.

For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold in primary schools has been introduced and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils which is a historical low ratio.  In addition, a three point reduction in the retention scale has also been introduced for September 2021.  These measures will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.

The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2021/22 school year are set out in Circular 19/2021, available on the Department website.