Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will urgently review and allow the retention of two teachers in a DEIS school (details supplied) in County Kerry as their removal will mean class sizes of over 40 pupils which is unacceptable, and will the Minister make; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33140/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 8 April 2025, why the enrolment threshold for an administrative principal is 136 pupils in Dublin, while in Kerry it is 169; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33144/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

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.

The school referred to by the Deputy is to have a teaching post suppressed in September due to falling enrolments.

The primary school staffing arrangements for the 2025/26 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2025. These arrangements contain an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school’s staffing appeal was unsuccessful. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). There is no indication from the school that there will be classes in excess of 40 for the coming school year.

The allocation of an administrative principal is based on a school’s enrolment. In ordinary and DEIS Rural schools, the enrolment threshold is 169. In DEIS Band 2 schools, the enrolment required for an administrative principal is 136, while in DEIS Urban Band 1 schools, it is 113. These thresholds apply to all similar types of schools equally, regardless of location. The school referred to by the Deputy fell below the required enrolment to maintain an administrative principal for the 2025/26 school year.