Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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479. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will facilitate additional flexibility with regard to the staffing schedule for schools that are dealing with particular fluctuations in the school-going population outside of the normal variations arising from circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46621/21]

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. Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 25 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. In addition, there has been a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which will assist schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

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 at primary level also include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolments for the following September.

At post-primary level, teachers are allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the Free Education System and 23:1 to schools in the fee-charging sector and the staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for post primary schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Post Primary Appeals Board. Additionally, schools that project an increase in enrolment may apply for an additional teacher allocation and provisional approval is sanctioned in May pending official confirmation of enrolments in September.

The Special Education Teaching allocation, as outlined in Circular 0007/2019, (primary schools) and 0008/2019 (post primary schools) provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. Further temporary Language Support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high concentrations of pupils that require language (EAL) support.

The staffing arrangements for primary and post primary schools for the 2021/22 school year, as set out in Circular 0019/2021 (primary) and Circulars 0005/2021, 0006/2021 and 0007/2021 (post primary), which are available on the Department website, provides details on the staffing appeal process.