School Staffing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Questions (129)

Clare Daly

Question:

129. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options open to Gaelscoil Ros Eo, which has 31 new students enrolled for junior infants but, with a small number of pupils who were enrolled last year leaving, might not be approved for an extra teacher as its average would be below 28 pupils to 1 teacher; and if he is aware that the consequence of this is that the older classes will have to have three syllabi taught in the one class with 30 children, which would put them at a significant disadvantage vis-à-vis their peers. [32797/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's 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 is the mechanism used for the allocation of classroom teachers to all primary schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The staffing schedule also includes provision for schools that have significant increases in their enrolment in rapidly developing areas to be allocated classroom teachers based on their projected enrolments for September 2013. The criteria for this are set out in the staffing schedule which is available on the Department website. I understand that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for a post under developing school status. The post was provisionally approved pending confirmation of the enrolment at 30 September 2013. The school subsequently decided not to proceed with the post on the basis of uncertainty of achieving the required enrolment. The Deputy will be aware that the Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level 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.