Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 June 2015
173. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which her Department has identified locations currently experiencing the most serious needs in terms of class size and classroom overcrowding; her plans to address the issue within a reasonable time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22682/15]
View answerMy focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015.
This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focused pre-school inspections. The improvements in the Primary Staffing Schedule for small schools which I announced in February last are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year. My Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional school places might be needed over the next number of years. On foot of this review, arrangements will be made to provide additional accommodation where this is needed. My Department continues to review the most up to date demographic information to ensure that any emerging school accommodation shortfalls are identified and met in a timely manner. The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers. The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
