Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
240. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views regarding the declining standard of education being provided to Irish children in the small schools that are losing teachers under the budget 2012 changes to threshold requirements for teacher allocation; if he will reverse these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7805/14]
View answerUnder Budget 2012, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in primary schools that have 86 or less pupils. The last phase of the Budget 2012 measure takes effect from September 2014. This will bring the pupil threshold for a 2-teacher school to 20 pupils (up from 12 pupils). While I acknowledge the concerns raised about this budget measure, it must be seen in the context of the major challenges the Government has in trying to shelter public services to the greatest extent possible. I am confident that the qualified and registered teachers in these schools will be in a position to continue to provide a high quality education to students. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that can be provided are used to maximum effect to achieve the best possible outcome for pupils.
An appeals process is available to schools affected by the measures introduced in Budget 2012. Circular 0007/2014 which is available on the Department website provides the criteria under which schools can make an appeal. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
Educational quality for the pupils has to be one of the main criteria in any consideration of primary school size. It is also necessary to consider the needs of local communities and of course there are wider social and cultural factors that need to be considered. Given our population growth, we have increasing enrolment at all levels of education which is expected to continue in the medium term. Many pupil places are required in areas that currently have no school provision at all and we have schools in areas of stable or declining population with relatively low pupil numbers.
Our current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by my Department in a value for money review which I am considering in consultation with my Government colleagues. My intention is to publish the report of the review on completion of this consideration process.
