Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1087. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the degree of provisions made to small rural schools to ensure they continue to be able to operate and serve their communities particularly during and throughout the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41383/21]
View answerSmall schools are highly valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity.
There is a commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to recognise the importance of small schools. There is a further commitment not to close any small school without the consent of parents.
Budget 2020 provided for improved teacher staffing levels for small schools. This measure saw a more favourable pupil teacher ratio in small schools from September 2020. This improved schedule will apply in two, three and four teacher schools and ensure one less pupil is required to retain/recruit a teacher. This builds on measures in previous budgets which has seen improvements in the appointment and retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and more favourable enrolment thresholds for one teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.
Small schools have also benefitted from the 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule for all schools implemented in 2016 and again in 2018. The staffing schedule at primary level currently operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher and will reduce to 25 pupils to every 1 teacher from September 2021 which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level. The retention band has been reduced by 3 points.
In addition in July 2020, the Government agreed the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, together with a package involving financial supports that eventually amounted to some €639 million to meet costs associated with the return to school for the 2020/2021 academic year. Of this €639 million, €331 million was provided for the period August/September to December 2020 and €308 million for January to July/August 2021.
The package of funding agreed was a combination of targeted supports to schools in advance of reopening last August and a range of supports to sustain that reopening. The range of supports included the replacement of teachers and non-teaching staff unable to attend for work due to Covid-19, minor works grants to facilitate refurbishment and reconfiguration of school buildings, additional release days for principals and deputy principals at primary level, and enhanced cleaning regimes, PPE equipment, school transport costs and wellbeing supports.
