Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2013
254. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the position regarding small two-teacher rural schools whose pupils numbers fall below 20; the options open to the pupils and teachers of such schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13723/13]
View answer256. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider putting in place a moratorium of a full school cycle where a school (details supplied) in Country Leitrim will remain open as a two teacher school. [13725/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 256 together.
Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recorded pupil enrolment. 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 allocation process for the 2013/14 school year is currently underway in my Department and the staffing arrangements, including the appeals process, for primary schools have been published on the Department website. The final staffing position for all schools will not be known until later in the year when the allocation process will be fully completed and all appeals to the Staffing Appeal Board will have been considered.
As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools is being gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. During this period the pupil threshold for a 2-classroom school is being increased to 20 pupils. 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. The phasing of these measures can provide the schools concerned with time to consider the potential for amalgamation with other schools where this is feasible. If amalgamations do take place, they will be voluntary and follow decisions taken by local communities and not by the Department.
The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and my Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the small schools that are affected by the budget measure. In this regard small schools will not lose their classroom post if they are projecting sustainable increased enrolments in September 2013 that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts over the longer term.
The detailed arrangements in relation to the appeals process are set out in the Department's Staffing Circular 0013/2013. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
