School Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2014

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Questions (35)

Mick Wallace

Question:

35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details on planned changes to staffing schedules in small primary schools, which will increase the appointment-retention figure for a second teacher to 20 students; the measures being taken to ensure that small schools such as a school (details supplied) in County Wexford, that provide a key service to the community, will not be forced to shut down due to these changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45360/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape.

However, this must be achieved in the context that all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement.

It was no longer affordable to allocate a second teacher to a school with just 12 pupils – thus giving an average class size of 6 pupils.

Under a Budget 2012 measure this threshold was increased on a phased basis to 20 pupils. The last phase of these increases took effect from September 2014.

An appeals process is available to schools affected by the Budget 2012 measure in the event that they can show that their projected enrolments are sufficient to allow them to retain their classroom teacher in the longer term.

The school referred to by the Deputy has an enrolment of 20 pupils and is therefore a 2-teacher school.