Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2013
322. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the increase in pupil-teacher ratio at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare which will rise from 22 to 32 in the next academic year; if he will commit to addressing the need for the school to be properly resourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31760/13]
View answerThe Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in this year's budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget. The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a result of the budget. The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2013/2014 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0013/2013) which is available on the Department website. 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 also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0013/2013. The allocation process at individual school level is currently underway. The final staffing position for all schools will ultimately not be known until the Autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and all appeals to the Staffing Appeals Board will have been considered.
