Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

323. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has analysed the additional administrative and operational pressures on small rural schools with multigrade classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67142/25]

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she intends to increase principal release days for teaching principals in small schools to support administration and management demands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67143/25]

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

325. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline measures in place to support the long-term viability of small rural schools facing enrolment, staffing and funding pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67144/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 323, 324 and 325 together.

The government is very aware that small schools are an important part of the life of local communities. The Programme for Government provides for a number of measures to support small schools, including introducing a new national small schools' project and trialling new administrative supports.

The current small schools' project is currently being implemented on a pilot basis to support collaboration and sharing of resources among small schools in rural areas. Learnings from the evaluation of the current small schools' project will be invaluable and will form a strong basis to inform the future policy direction in relation to all small schools. This will include the development in my department of future proposals to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment.

Priority was given in recent Budgets to reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level. More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools. A three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

While small schools have benefitted from the recent improvements in the staffing schedule, there are also specific staffing measures aimed at small schools. Such measures include reduced enrolment thresholds where a school is 8km or more away from the nearest school of the same type of patronage/language of instruction and a specific staffing appeal criteria aimed at small schools which allows the school to appoint/retain a teacher on the basis of current enrolment rather than the previous 30 September. In addition, sole primary schools on our islands have a second classroom teacher allocated, regardless of enrolment.

I recognise the key role school leadership in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities. Recent improvements in relation to school management and leadership structures which have benefitted small schools include:

• all primary schools with a teaching principal have a minimum of 37 Principal Release Days, that is, one administrative day per week. Schools with one special class have 4 additional release days, a total of 41 in the school year.
• schools with two special classes have administrative principal status regardless of enrolment
• the second teacher in two-teacher schools have Deputy Principal status as opposed to holding Assistant Principal II posts.
• Restoration of middle management positions were prioritised in recent Budgets with 500 additional AP II posts allocated to primary schools in the 2024/25 school year. For the 2025/26 school year, the equivalent of 500 AP II posts is being distributed as 110 AP I and 251 AP II for the purposes of fully restoring all PORs in primary schools.