Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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648. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that an additional teacher is assigned to a national school (details supplied) under the criteria alleviating some of the pressure on class sizes at infant level. [12766/23]

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 2023/24 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 23 pupils which is a historical low ratio.

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 Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The Appeals Board has determined that the staffing appeal referred to by the Deputy did not satisfy all of the published criteria as set out in Circular 0006/2023. The school has been informed of this decision.