Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools per county that are due to lose a mainstream classroom teacher for the forthcoming academic year, in tabular form; if she will review the structure of the current allocation system given the stress and worry it is causing to school communities, as was recently experienced in Tarbert and Ballyduff, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34834/22]

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, with lower thresholds applying to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.

The staffing arrangements also include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment.  These posts are approved provisionally pending confirmation of enrolment on 30th September.

The staffing process also contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.  Details of the appeal process are available in Circular 25/2022.  

The final staffing position for the 2022/23 school year will be confirmed in October once the staffing appeals and projected enrolment processes have been completed.