Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2012
154. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding staffing at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41366/12]
View answer73 small primary schools were originally due to lose a classroom teacher in September 2012 as a result of the budget measure to increase the relevant pupil thresholds. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board considered appeals from any of the 73 schools that could show that their projected enrolments for September 2012 were sufficient to allow them retain their classroom teacher over the longer term. 38 small schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy had their appeals provisionally upheld by the Appeals Board subject to confirmation that their actual enrolments in September 2012 reach the required level. The required level of enrolment projected by the school in question failed to materialise at 30 September 2012, resulting in the loss of a classroom post.
In these extremely challenging times, all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement.
