Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
485. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the further supports made available to DEIS schools catering for the highest concentrations of education disadvantage from the budget allocation of €2 million in 2021; and the detail of the full allocation of €5 million in 2022 announced in budget 2021. [35445/20]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already allocated a preferential staffing schedule of 20:1 for schools catering for junior classes only and 24:1 for schools catering for senior classes only. Most DEIS Urban Band 1 schools operate vertical schools with a ratio of 22:1.
As an initial step in addressing this, I have focused on a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1 primary schools and therefore there will be a one point reduction in their staffing schedule from 24:1 to 23:1.
The total Budget allocation of additional funding of €2million in 2021, with a full year allocation of €5million in 2022 provides for further supports to be allocated as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage. My Department continues to support those schools most in need. My Department is considering options on how best to achieve this.
