Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
353. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected annual savings to be made in increasing the pupil-teacher ratio in Gaeltacht schools from September 2013 onwards. [34831/13]
View answer355. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of gaelscoileanna affected by the changes to the pupil-teacher ratio from September 2013 onwards; and if he will provide details of those schools that will lose a teaching post as a result of the change in staffing schedules. [34833/13]
View answer356. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views that the favourable pupil-teacher ratio for gaelscoileanna reflected the greater challenges facing small and developing gaelscoileanna implementing a full curriculum through Irish and the inequalities relating to the lack of resources and supports at these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34834/13]
View answer357. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to increase the pupil-teacher ratio in gaelscoileanna impedes schools in Gaeltacht areas delivering the curriculum through Irish; and his views on the concerns that some schools will require an additional 20 plus pupils to maintain their current staffing levels. [34835/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 355 to 357, inclusive, together.
The Government has protected front-line services to schools to the greatest extent possible in Budget 2013 and there will be 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. Schools in Gaeltacht areas have historically operated the same staffing schedule as ordinary schools for the creation of a classroom teaching post at primary level. A slightly more favourable schedule operated for the Gaeltacht schools to retain a post between the bands of four and twelve classroom teachers. The standardisation of the staffing schedule for Gaelscoileanna so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools generally was one of a number of measures introduced in Budget 2011 by the previous government to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes came into effect from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country now finds itself, it is not possible to reverse these changes.
The criteria used to allocate teachers to schools, including Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools, are 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 arrangements for the 2013/14 school year are set out in Circular 0013/2013 which is available on the website. 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. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools.
The Staffing Schedule significantly advantages small primary schools. For example, a 2-classroom teacher school with 30 pupils has an average class size of 15 pupils. In contrast, a typical 10-classroom teacher school with 272 pupils has an average class size of 27.2 pupils. One of the savings measures in Budget 2012 was a phased increase in the pupil threshold for the allocation of classroom teachers in small primary schools, including Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools. The impact of the budget measure means that the staffing levels in small primary schools will no longer be as favourable as they were previously but they will still be better than the Staffing Schedule general average of 28:1 that operates in medium to larger schools. A new appeals process for small schools was introduced as part of the Budget 2012 measure. This enables small schools that are due to lose a classroom post as a result of the budget measure to retain the classroom post on the basis of their projected enrolments. The allocation process at individual school level is currently under way. 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.
