Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide an additional teacher to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21777/22]

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 2022/23 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 24 pupils which is a historical low ratio.

The school referred to by the Deputy returned an enrolment of 41 for 30th September 2021, which allows for the retention of the current mainstream staffing of Principal and 1 classroom teacher for the 2022/23 school year.

The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including a specific one aimed at small schools, to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Information and application forms are available in Circular 25/2022, published on the Department website.