Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Nov 2008

Vol. 669 No. 1

Adjournment Debate.

Community Development.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

I was stunned yesterday to hear that the closure is imminent of the Inchicore community development project. Obviously, I am aware, as has been publicised since, that there is a criminal investigation into the misappropriation of funds in regard to this project. I wish the Garda well in that because the only person who looks like benefiting from this is the person guilty of the fraud, embezzlement or whatever has occurred. The decision of the Department to advise the community development project in Inchicore that it would not give it any more funding means not only that three people are out of work but also that a community which has already been severely affected by the current crisis, and previous non-investment, will suffer further.

I appeal to the Minister to think again about the decision to withdraw funding, to deal with the misappropriation of funds and to come up with a mechanism to prevent that type of carry-on happening again in the Inchicore community development project or any community development project. He should deal directly with it but he should not withdraw funding from an area which has in recent months been told the entire regeneration of St. Michael's estate will not go ahead. In the past month, it was told that eight of the projects by Dublin City Council have been deferred, some until 2012 at the earliest. This is an area with a new sports hall which cannot run at full capacity because the Government cannot match funding. It has suffered severely for many years because of a drugs crisis and under-investment.

On top of this, the community is now being told that the CDP, in which a great deal of time was invested to build it up to what it is today, will be forced to close due to what I understand are the activities of one person. This is despite the fact that a voluntary board has spent a great deal of time helping to prepare the work programme of the CDP which, in particular, addresses the needs and concerns of the elderly and new communities in Inchicore.

It is suggested that this work will be absorbed by other community groups. However, we are all aware of the problems and restrictions which other community groups work under and they will not have the capacity to absorb the valuable work in which the Inchicore CDP was involved. Even at this late stage, will the Minister of State re-examine addressing this without withdrawing funding and closing Inchicore CDP?

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Seán Haughey)

I will take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with responsibility for community affairs, Deputy John Curran.

The community development programme was established in 1990 in recognition of the role of community development in tackling the causes and effects of poverty and disadvantage. The programme was the first nationally funded intervention in support of communities that used community development principles and methods. Community development seeks to challenge the underlying causes of disadvantage resulting from the effects of poverty and exclusion. It aims to offer new opportunities for those lacking choice, power and resources. Community development involves members of a community working collectively in assessing needs and identifying the changes necessary to improve conditions and making these changes happen. People use and develop their skills, knowledge, experiences and common purpose to improve the quality of their own lives and the good of their community. The National Development Plan 2007-2013 allows for the continuation of the programme to support the development of communities.

At present, 180 projects are funded under the programme through the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. These are located nationwide in recognised urban and rural disadvantaged areas. All projects have an anti-poverty, anti-exclusion focus and are managed by local voluntary management committees. Projects are expected to operate as a resource to the communities in which they are located with their main purpose being to work with the community in identifying and tackling those issues which have resulted in a lack of positive community development.

In general, projects are typically concerned with the needs of women and children, lone parent families, the unemployed, the elderly, young people at risk, Travellers, those with disabilities, new communities and other disadvantaged groups. They provide facilities such as meeting rooms, crèches, office facilities and training or education projects designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups in their communities. An allocation of €24.5 million has been provided for the community development programme for 2008.

Inchicore community development project has been funded under the community development programme since 2004. Funding of €30,000 was paid in 2004, €67,400 in 2005, €72,000 in 2006 and €91,880 in 2007 from programme funds to the project. The project was allocated core funding of more than €110,000 for 2008, which has been fully paid to the project.

The difficulties being experienced by Inchicore community development project have not been caused by the recent budgetary situation. It is understood that the voluntary board of management of Inchicore CDP has been advised by its auditors and legal advisers to cease trading. Due to misapplied funding in the project the company is insolvent and to continue to trade would expose the board members personally to penalties and fines under company law, as they would be regarded as trading recklessly. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is not, therefore, in a position to provide further funding to the project on the expiry of the current contractual arrangement with the project at the end of the 2008.

The Department was informed by telephone in September 2008 that the project had reasonable grounds to suspect that there may have been a misapplication of public funds by a member of staff engaged by the project. It was suspected that misapplications of funding had occurred in 2008 and in previous years. The chairperson of the project followed due process and informed An Garda Síochána of the suspected misappropriation.

The Department was informed by telephone by the board of Inchicore CDP Limited that its solicitor had advised it to follow the advice of the auditor to cease trading. The solicitor further advised that to continue trading could expose individual board members to penalties and fines. The board decided at a meeting on the 17 November 2008 to accept this advice and to cease trading.

A number of other companies in Inchicore are conducting community development type activity in the catchment area, including a number of CDPs and partnership companies. In the interest of the local community the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, has asked departmental officials to examine the possibility that one of these groups carries out some of the initiatives previously undertaken by Inchicore CDP.

The Government remains committed to the community development programme and to the communities they serve. The community development programme has made a considerable contribution to the tasks of countering disadvantage and in promoting equality and social and economic inclusion. The high numbers of communities and individuals supported by the programme since its inception is the result of the hard work and commitment of the boards of the community development projects.

The key to the success of many social inclusion projects is due in no small part to the input and commitment from individuals and community groups from all over the country. However, in the current economic environment, there is an ongoing need to ensure that resources are directed in a targeted and effective manner and that we are constantly subjecting our activities to critical appraisal, in this way we can continue to ensure that those we work to assist will receive the maximum benefit.

As with all other Government programmes and initiatives, the amount of funding available for the programmes will be less in 2009 than in recent years. This will present significant challenges in the short term. The programmes will continue to support the mobilisation of local communities to tackle disadvantage. The aim is to improve participation and quality of life for the less well-off in our communities. Projects will continue to be supported to encourage the active voluntary participation and development of community leadership in areas of greatest need.

It is disappointing that the Inchicore project finds itself in this situation. However, in line with good governance procedures and practices, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs requires funded companies to be fully compliant with their statutory and regulatory obligations. The Minister of State, Deputy Curran, shares the Deputy's concerns for the community of Inchicore and as I stated his officials are investigating alternative mechanisms for delivering on the project's workplan for 2009 and beyond.

Centre for Deaf Studies.

Deputy Joe Costello

This matter aims to ensure the important Centre for Deaf Studies at Trinity College does not lose the minimal education grant it has at present. We are concerned that yet another institution dealing with a vulnerable minority is targeted by cuts in education. The Centre for Deaf Studies is based in Trinity College and funded by the HEA. It is concerned that its funding for 2009 will be cut. It already operates on a shoestring budget of €440,000 and it cannot afford any cutbacks. It had to locate most of its activities in Drumcondra because it must pay rent in Trinity College and most of its staff now works in Drumcondra. This is a difficult situation.

The Centre for Deaf Studies is the only university on the island of Ireland where deaf studies, Irish Sign Language teaching and Irish Sign Language and English interpreting is taught. There are currently 5,000 deaf Irish sign language, ISL, users in Ireland, but only 50 to 60 full-time interpreters. Thus, there is a shortfall of between 140 and 150 interpreters to facilitate interpreted access to a range of public services, including third level education, medical settings, legal domains, employment situations and conferences. The reduction in the delivery of ISL and English interpreter education services will deny the deaf community the right to participate at all levels of society and is an infringement of their human rights.

The reduction in funding will have the effect of impacting on public bodies such as the Garda, which will face enormous difficulties in meeting its legal obligations to provide interpretation facilities. There have already been several court cases which have fallen through because of the use of unqualified interpreters. There was a recent case in Kanturk, County Cork, where an assault case was dismissed on 1 October. It was reported that difficulties arose with a statement made by a witness, who cannot hear or speak, on the night of the incident and with the qualifications of the interpreter used at a previous court hearing for the person in question.

We need many more interpreters for sign language. Deaf students will not be able to take up third level places without interpreters. They are already the most unrepresentative of all disadvantaged groups in higher education. In the event that the Centre for Deaf Studies is unable to continue its operations, there would be no other facility in the country providing ISL and English interpreter education. If the Centre for Deaf Studies is forced to close, it would mean deaf studies would no longer be provided in any university in Ireland.

The centre requires a minimum of €440,000, which is its current allocation, to continue to provide these excellent and essential services. The funding is normally provided by the Higher Education Authority, HEA, and is ring-fenced. This is the way it has operated up to now. However, this year the HEA established the strategic and innovation of vulnerable subjects fund and €1 million has been set aside for this fund. Unfortunately, the Centre for Deaf Studies has been forced to compete with several other organisations, equally worthwhile, for this core funding, which is outrageous.

The Government has failed the deaf community. Its failure to recognise Irish sign language as an official language is an indication of its failure to recognise the needs of the deaf community. Ironically, Irish sign language is recognised in Northern Ireland and by the British Government. Sign languages are recognised by the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, but not the Government.

In the overall scheme of the public service budget, the required funding is not exorbitant. It barely represents the equivalent of one FÁS trip to Florida. The Centre for Deaf Studies represents value for money, but not only as the only university department for deaf studies in Ireland. It is also internationally renowned. It won a European language ambassador of the year award as recently as September 2008. It is involved in the Erasmus and Fulbright programmes and a range of other European Union programmes. Its future participation in two very important and significant European research programmes, under the EU Leonardo programme, is also in jeopardy, as is the roll-out of the masters course in deaf studies throughout the country if these cutbacks are put in place.

The Centre for Deaf Studies in Trinity College, Dublin, along with its outreach programme in Drumcondra represents value for money. Its funding must at least be maintained at the existing level, but I hope it will be increased.

Deputy Seán Haughey

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the up-to-date position of the Department of Education and Science on this issue. As the Deputy is aware, the Centre for Deaf Studies represents a constituent part of Trinity College, Dublin, TCD. The Universities Act 1997 confers autonomous statutory responsibilities on universities for the day-to-day management of their affairs and it is a matter for each university to manage its financial resources. Through the Higher Education Authority, the designated body responsible for the planning and development of higher education and research in Ireland, universities receive a recurrent block grant.

The HEA, on request from Trinity College, Dublin, provided specific funding for the Deaf Studies Centre as part of the overall recurrent grant to the college in recent years. I understand that TCD recently made a request to the HEA for specific funding for the Centre for Deaf Studies for 2009. This request was recently agreed by the HEA and I understand that the authority notified TCD in this regard. The Minister for Education and Science does not have a role in this process.

With regard to general recurrent funding allocated by the HEA, it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is applied and, therefore, Trinity College, Dublin, as an autonomous body, may determine the use of funding and may allocate additional funding to the centre over and above that provided by the HEA if it so wishes.

The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, indicated that significant investment has been made through the years in the higher education system. Overall provision for the third level sector has increased from some €1.5 billion in 2004 to some €2 billion in 2008. The overall allocation for the sector in 2009 will be in the region of €2.1 billion, which takes account of the general public sector reduction in the payroll, applicable to all higher level institutions. It will be a matter for the institutions to manage their resources in 2009 and, where necessary, to effect economies across all levels of activity, including increased collaboration between universities, and between the university and institutes of technology, IOT, sectors. In recent years, recurrent funding allocated specifically to the university sector has increased from €631 million in 2004 to €831 million in 2008. This represents an increase of some 32% since 2004 and an increase of almost 120% from 1998 levels. This excludes separately provided programmes of funding for capital, for research and development and from the strategic innovation fund.

The multi-annual strategic innovation fund, SIF, for higher education was introduced by the Government in 2006 with an allocation of €510 million for the period of the national development plan. The fund is intended to be a major catalyst in bringing about substantial change and quality improvements in higher education institutions and promoting system-wide collaboration that draws on all institutions' collective strengths. Projects approved under the fund are aimed at institutional reform, enhancing teaching and learning, improving access and life-long learning and enabling the development of fourth level activity.

I understand Trinity College, Dublin, was successful under the strategic innovation fund specifically for the Centre for Deaf Studies. TCD, as the lead institution, was awarded €1.28 million in multi-annual funding under second SIF, for diploma courses which the university has developed to improve education and career opportunities for deaf students. This collaborative proposal with the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, will make these diploma courses available nationwide through distance learning. It will implement a bachelor of arts degree option and it will research, develop, implement and evaluate appropriate assisting technologies for the teaching of Irish sign language and deaf studies using the internet. I again thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to respond to the House on this matter.

Education Funding.

Deputy Finian McGrath

I am thankful for the opportunity of participating in this important debate on the need to support and develop education on the northside of Dublin. Tonight, I stand up for education and for teachers, pupils and parents who know and understand the importance of education. I challenge the enemies of education and put on record some of the misinformation from politicians and media commentators. I am a proud member of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, INTO, and have been for many years. I have always put education, pupils and teachers first. That is who I am and from where I come.

In addition to standing up for education in the broad sense, I particularly stand up for the schools in my area which do great work against the odds. I strongly support Scoil Mhuire, Marino, Ardscoil Rís, Marino, St. Vincent de Paul infant school, Marino, St. Paul's College, Raheny, St. Mary's Holy Faith, Killester and Belgrove national school, Clontarf, which urgently needs a new building. These schools along with Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont, need support and some will shortly lose teachers. It represents blatant misinformation to suggest these schools accept the cuts, especially when other methods of funding were tabled as an alternative to the backward step represented by cuts. Cutbacks on the current and capital side will further depress economic activity, and borrowing money may stimulate the economy and create jobs.

The facts are as follows. The dirty dozen cuts will increase class sizes in primary schools, remove substitute cover for teachers, increase school transport charges, cause the axing of English language teachers, reduce funding to special needs children, slash Traveller education funding, cut teacher numbers by at least 1,000, eliminate the free books scheme, stop books for school libraries, halt the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, cut funding for computers in primary schools and cut funding for primary school buildings by 5%. This is the reality for teachers, for parents and for young pupils in large classes. The INTO said the admission by the Minister for Education and Science that 1,100 teachers would be taken out of the system was long overdue but welcome. I commend John Carr, general secretary of the INTO, on the work he has put into this campaign. The fact of the matter is that if pupil numbers remain the same, 1,100 teachers will be axed. However, this is not about teachers but about children and education. The Minister will enrol thousands of pupils, but employing 200 fewer teachers for Ireland's already packed classes will result in even more overcrowding. The INTO said that more than 2,000 additional primary teachers were needed to bring numbers up to the EU average. Instead, 1,000 teaching posts are being cut. These are the facts. Let us deal with them.

I also urge common sense in this urgent matter for the future of our country. I urge teachers, parents, pupils and all those who care about education to unite in this important battle for social justice. We should not let them divide us on education. Education is the way forward in this country and it is also the way out of the current economic crisis. It is time to be brave and it is time for leadership and vision in the education debate. We must ignore those who use petty arguments to undermine our efforts.

It is scandalous that on the north side of Dublin, pupils cannot get into their local secondary schools because of lack of places. We all have a duty to support these families and pupils. Any state or society that does not look after its citizens and respect their right to an education loses the respect and confidence of its people. We have all witnessed that in recent weeks. Tonight I stand by these people as an Independent Deputy for Dublin North-Central. Hammering our children in large classes and hammering our disabled and senior citizens should never be an option in an economic downturn. I urge the Minister to think again. I urge him to get rid of the macho image, supported by some right-wing commentators and politicians, of trying to defeat the teachers' unions, parents and students. It is time for common sense. I urge the Minister to listen to sensible voices in Irish education. I will continue to fight for education in Marino, Fairview, Drumcondra, Clontarf, Coolock, Santry, Raheny, Beaumont, Donnycarney, Edenmore and Killester. I will also continue to push for high quality educational services nationally as I believe education is a right for all of our citizens.

Deputy Seán Haughey

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

A key priority for the education system is to continue to respond to the diverse needs of learners at all levels. In particular, this means increasing the flexibility and diversity of provision and ensuring quality across the system. Much progress has been made in this area, as may be seen in the substantial programme of curriculum change across both primary and post-primary levels, the development of new learning opportunities outside the traditional post-primary system, the expansion of third level, the growth of a new fourth level and the provision of adult and further education opportunities. In the time available, I will highlight a number of policies and programmes that are particularly relevant to the provision of education services in Dublin.

The educational outcome for the student is crucially dependent on the quality of learning in the school. In 2009 the inspectorate of my Department will continue to support schools and promote improvement through the whole school evaluation and inspection programme in primary and post-primary schools. Through its school evaluation work in the period ahead, my Department will maintain a focus on promoting best practice in school development planning and self-evaluation. This continues to be an important objective for our system, and the evaluation reports provide many examples of leadership in this area.

Numerous influential reports have highlighted the fact that teacher quality is the single most important factor — far above anything else — in improving outcomes. It is vital, therefore, that we not only continue to attract the right people into teaching but that we provide them with the continuum of professional development opportunities they need to be effective educators. The Teaching Council has been given a key statutory role in ensuring that the teaching profession operates to a high standard, and it is aware of the priority my Department attaches to improvements in certain areas, particularly pre-service and induction. In addition, significant agreements were reached just this week on the promotion of teachers and the mechanism by which schools can deal with serious underperformance by teachers in the classroom. The whole school community, in the years ahead, will benefit greatly from these agreements. They are carefully balanced agreements with promotions based on merit and discipline procedures in place for serious underperformance by teachers. These agreements have been accepted by all the teacher unions and they will come into effect in the next school year.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Department's action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS, is being rolled out on a phased basis over the period 2005 to 2010, and focuses on addressing the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities, from pre-school through second-level education. There are 876 schools participating in DEIS, including 103 schools — 76 primary and 27 post primary schools — located on the north side of Dublin. Schools in the DEIS programme are provided with a range of additional financial and other supports, including additional capitation, access to numeracy and literacy supports, home school community liaison services and access to the junior certificate schools programme and the leaving certificate applied at post-primary level.

There are 17 school completion programme projects on the north side of Dublin, comprising 28 post-primary schools and 80 primary schools, targeting approximately 4,720 young people in school and 117 young people out of school, with a total funding allocation of €4,473,905 for 2008-09. Under the SCP, 13 schools participate in the support teacher project, which aims to co-ordinate a whole-school approach to designing and implementing good practice and strategies which will help to prevent the occurrence of disruptive behaviour and to teach and counsel small groups and individuals who exhibit persistent behavioural difficulties in the classroom. The educational element of the north side teenage parenting project, under the teenage parenting support initiative, is also supported under SCP.

Earlier this year, the Government prioritised a programme of investment to deliver additional primary school places in areas of significant demographic change, including the north Dublin area. As a result, a total of 26 new primary schools were successfully delivered on time for September 2008. Schools in the Dublin area included Skerries, Swords, Balbriggan, Lucan, Tyrellstown, Phibblestown, Belmayne, Saggart, Balbriggan and Porterstown. This programme of rapid accommodation delivery has gone a long way towards addressing the issue of capacity in areas identified as experiencing difficulties in this regard. My Department's rapid delivery programme for 2009 will be focused on extension projects in existing schools that are already at architectural planning at various stages of progression. These will also deliver additional permanent accommodation where most needed. I note in particular that the building project at Springdale Road national school in Raheny will commence early in 2009.

The 2009 capital allocation will also cover expenditure on commitments carried forward from 2008, and other miscellaneous items such as the purchase of prefabricated accommodation, the payment of the minor works grant to primary schools and the provision of furnishings and equipment to schools. Schools in the north Dublin area will also benefit in this regard.

Overall investment in education has increased from €3.1 billion in 1997 to €9.3 billion this year. The Government has provided an additional €302 million for education next year, bringing my Department's allocation to €9.6 billion. It will be necessary in the more testing economic climate ahead for us to continue to target and prioritise our resources to maximum effect for everyone. This will ensure that we deliver the best possible outcomes for all learners. I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

School Staffing.

Deputy Joe Carey

On budget day, it was very hard to determine the true impact of the various budgetary measures on our education system. As all the details have emerged since then, it has become clear that the first budget of the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, amounted to a direct attack on the old, the sick and the young. I am pleased to have an opportunity this evening to speak on behalf of the younger generation — the students of today, who will be the leaders of tomorrow. The only way this country's economy will get off its knees is by ensuring that every pupil can avail of the best possible educational system. I propose to highlight the plight of two schools in Ennis, County Clare — St. Flannan's College and Coláiste Mhuire.

I am a past pupil of St. Flannan's College, which has an outstanding record of giving all students a top-class education. The college produces students who are leaders in academic and sporting fields. It is a renowned academy for hurling, in particular. Its past pupils include hurlers such as Jamesie O'Connor, who is now a teacher at the college, Anthony Daly, Davy Fitzgerald and John Callinan. St. Flannan's College is rich in history and achievement. The college, which caters for boys and girls, has 1,150 pupils and 79 teachers. Coláiste Mhuire is an all-girls secondary school. Since its foundation, the school has had an excellent reputation throughout County Clare and the rest of Ireland for offering its students first-class educational opportunities. Coláiste Mhuire has 550 pupils and a teaching staff of 43.

The proposed cutbacks in education will have serious implications for St. Flannan's College and Coláiste Mhuire. All 17 secondary schools in County Clare will be affected in the same way. The increase in the pupil-teacher ratio from 18:1 to 19:1 will result in the loss of two secondary school teachers, on average, in every school in Clare. Such a loss of teachers will have a ripple effect in every school. It will curtail subject choice. The transition year programme will be reduced in scale or even discontinued. These cutbacks will put massive pressure on the leaving certificate applied programme. They will bring about the loss of home school programmes. From 7 January next, the proposed changes in substitution cover will result in students being unable to participate in field trips as part of the school curriculum in subjects like geography and biology. Sporting activities will be curtailed. Schools are also set to lose the free book scheme.

If the cutbacks are implemented, St. Flannan's College will lose four or five teachers and Coláiste Mhuire will lose two teachers. Such staff losses will present the principals and staff of the schools with major problems when timetables are being planned. When taken with the proposed cuts in substitution cover, it is clear that a nightmare situation will develop, particularly as these changes are to be made in the middle of the school year.

The four Deputies who represent the Clare constituency recently met the principals of all the secondary schools in the county. We were told that if the substitution issue is not addressed, there will be massive disruption and an increase in indiscipline in schools. I do not doubt that students and teachers will suffer increased stress if the Minister proceeds with his plan to grab money without any purpose. The Minister's decision to abolish the free book scheme in the recent budget represented a direct attack on the poor. This year, the bill under the scheme in St. Flannan's College was €18,500. Some 90 students availed of the scheme in Coláiste Mhuire. If the Government has its way, this grant will not be available next year and parents will be placed in an impossible financial position. School books for first year students cost €329.15 and books for leaving certificate students cost €362.15. Does it make sense for the Minister to remove this grant at a time when 10,000 people are joining the dole queues every month?

A crisis will emerge in our schools early next year when substitute cover is no longer provided for teachers who are away from the classroom on school business. Field trips form an important part of the curriculum in subjects like geography, biology and civic, social and political education. In the absence of proper substitution cover, these vital activities will become a thing of the past. Sporting and cultural activities give students who find it hard to engage in the school system an opportunity to excel. Coláiste Mhuire has a 90-member award-winning choir. It offers a wide range of sporting activities, including badminton, basketball and camogie. St. Flannan's College is well known for its success, particularly on the hurling field. It provides a full spectrum of other sports for boys and girls. All of these activities will be placed in jeopardy if the Minister proceeds with his plan to withdraw the substitution cover that has been provided before now. What purpose do these cuts serve? How will they assist the development of a child? How will they help society? How will they address problems such as obesity?

I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to radically rethink the proposed cutbacks in education. Investment in education at pre-school, primary, secondary and third levels is critically important for the future well-being of this country. The Minister should listen to the parents and pupils who have been marching on the streets of this country in opposition to the cuts. He should listen to teachers who have practical knowledge of the effect the cuts will have. I appeal to the Minister to reverse the disastrous education cuts outlined in budget 2009.

Deputy Seán Haughey

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to outline the impact of the budget measures at post-primary level. Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. The 2009 budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure in the interests of controlling expenditure and ensuring sustainability in the long term. While the education sector was protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, it could not be entirely spared. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, acknowledges the impact of funding restrictions in a number of areas, including at school level. They are the inevitable result of the need to manage Exchequer resources prudently in the current challenging economic environment. One of the decisions that was taken involves increasing the pupil-teacher ratio across all second level schools from 18:1 to 19:1. In the case of fee-charging post-primary schools, there will be an additional one-point adjustment to 20:1.

The impact of the staffing schedule changes and the withdrawal of historic DEIS and language support posts needs to be considered alongside the expected increases in teacher numbers in certain areas, for demographic reasons, and the appointment of additional resource teachers for special needs. In that context, it is likely that there will be an overall net reduction of 200 posts at second level. This number represents less than 1% of all teaching posts in second level schools. When examined as part of the targeted payroll reduction in the public sector as a whole, it is a demonstration of the Government's desire to protect front-line staff in schools to the greatest extent possible.

As the processing of the September 2008 enrolment returns for post-primary schools has not yet been finalised, it is not possible to outline to the House the impact of such changes on the allocation of mainstream teaching posts for the 2009-10 school year in the schools in question. The staffing schedule for the 2009-10 school year will be issued to all schools as soon as possible. A more accurate indication of mainstream staffing levels will be available at that time. The allocation processes include appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocations due to them under the staffing schedules. This is particularly relevant at post-primary level where the appellate process takes particular account of any specific curricular needs of the school concerned. At post-primary level there is currently no effective system-wide redeployment scheme and this can mean that schools retain teachers, though over-quota. In addition, discrete allocations may be made to post-primary schools to cater, for example, for pupils with special educational needs and those with language difficulties. These allocations can also alter the ultimate position of the school in regard to any over-quota position.

The Department is aware of funding pressures on schools. However, progress has been made in recent years that has seen the post-primary capitation grant increased by €15 per pupil to a total of €331 per pupil. In addition, voluntary secondary schools have benefited from the increase of €15 per pupil in 2008 in the support services grant, bringing that grant to €204 per pupil.

The cumulative increase of €30 per pupil in voluntary secondary schools brings the aggregate grant to €535 per pupil. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is also provided by the Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. Budget allocations for schools in the community and comprehensive school sector, along with those in the VEC sector, are increased on a pro rata basis with increases in the per capita grant. All schools are eligible for recurrent per capita grants towards special classes and curricular support grants.

The funding mechanisms in place afford schools considerable flexibility in the use of their resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, appreciates that the abolition of several grants for some schools will impact on funding levels in 2009. However, the enhanced levels of funding announced in the budget for the capitation and ancillary services grants will help to alleviate the impact of this.

I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to address the House on this matter and for the information he has provided on the schools in question. I appreciate the opportunity to outline the current position on these general issues.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.35 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 2 December 2008.