Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) and the points raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33381/21]

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.

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 an average of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils.  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.  These improvements reduced the appointment figure for a 3rd teacher to 52, while schools that currently have a 3rd teacher will retain their staffing with an enrolment of 49 pupils.

The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including a specific appeal measure for small schools, to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

Any further improvement in the staffing schedule will be considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.