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Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 May 2014

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Questions (63, 64, 65)

Seán Fleming

Question:

63. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils needed in a school to have two mainstream teachers; the changes made to this pupil-teacher ratio in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23522/14]

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Seán Fleming

Question:

64. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils needed in a school to have three mainstream teachers; the changes made to this pupil-teacher ratio in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23524/14]

View answer

Seán Fleming

Question:

65. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils needed in a school to have four mainstream teachers; the changes made to this pupil-teacher ratio in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23525/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 to 65, inclusive, together.

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the Department website. The staffing arrangements for the 2014/15 school year (Circular 0007/2014) were published on 24 January, 2014. 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 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 following table sets out the number of pupils required for a school to have 2, 3 and 4 classroom teachers over the period sought by the Deputy.

School

Year

Year

Year

Year

Year

Size of school

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2-classroom school

12

12

14

17

20

3-classroom school

49

49

51

54

56

4-classroom school

81

81

83

85

86

As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools with four teachers or less. The first phase of the budget measure took effect from September 2012. The final phase of the budget measure takes effect from September 2014. My Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the 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 2014 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 in the Department's Staffing Circular 0007/2014. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

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