I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 175 to 177, inclusive, together.
The cumulative savings achieved to date from the 2012 small schools budget measure are of the order of €20m. The number of posts lost and not gained as a result of the increased pupil threshold is of the order of 160 posts. This gives an indication of the overall costs involved in relation to restoring teacher numbers in small schools. The final position will not be known until after the appeals process for the current school year has been fully completed.
In the time available and due to other work pressures it is not possible to provide the more detailed information sought by the Deputy.
My Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the schools that are affected by the Budget 2012 measure. In this regard small schools did not lose their classroom post if they were 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.
Our current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by the Department in a value for money (VFM) review. This review took account of the ethos of schools and the locations of small schools relative to other schools of a similar type. I will be considering this review in consultation with my Government colleagues and I intend to publish the report on completion of this consideration process.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
The reply to this Parliamentary Question set out the overall position in relation to savings achieved to date from the 2012 small schools budget measure. It also explained in the reply that in the time available it was not possible to provide the more detailed information sought by the Deputy.
In that regard, I wish to explain that October is a key month for completing the teacher allocation and redeployment process for schools for the 2014/15 school year. The 30th September is the relevant date for determining enrolment in schools and critical for schools in relation to whether teaching posts allocated on the basis of projected enrolment on that date are retained by the school or redeployed elsewhere. The focus of staff in the Teacher Allocations Section of the Department at this time is therefore on the successful completion of this process. The final meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board was also held at this time (21 October 2014).
The teacher allocation and redeployment process for 2014/15 school year is now effectively completed. Staff now have an opportunity to do detailed analysis which will enable more detailed information to be provided to the Deputy. This analysis will include using the Department’s Geographic Information System to measure distances between individual schools affected by the budget measure.
I want to assure you that this analysis work will be done over the coming days and a comprehensive response will be issued directly to the Deputy at the latest by Friday 14 November 2014.
I want to assure you that every effort is made to ensure, as best as possible, that replies to Parliamentary Questions are as comprehensive as possible and deal with all the issues raised by Deputies.
