Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2015
186. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is an impact on funding and the number of teachers allocated to a school by admitting a child that has not reached 12 years of age by 1 January of the enrolment year; and, if funding implications do exist, whether exceptions can be made. [17968/15]
View answerMy Department calculates the staffing and grant allocations for primary and post primary schools on the basis of the total number of 'recognised' pupils enrolled in the school on 30th September of the previous year. The Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools define a "recognised pupil" as a pupil who is not less than 12 years of age on the 1st day of January of the school year; who as a rule has completed a full course of primary education; and who is following an approved course. A pupil who does not meet the definition of 'recognised pupil' is not normally counted for grant or teacher allocation purposes. However, consideration can be given to individual cases where, having regard to a student's circumstances, it may be educationally appropriate to do so.
