The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 25 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. In addition, there has been a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which will assist schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
While Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools, specific targeted measures for small and isolated schools as well as primary schools on our islands have been introduced in the last number of years which has seen an improvement in the enrolment thresholds of these schools.
The appointment and retention of 2, 3 and 4 teacher schools in 2011 was 12, 49 and 81 (retention figure of 76 applied to Gaeltacht schools) respectively. Changes announced in Budget 2012 increased these thresholds on an incremental basis to 20, 56 and 86 by 2014. The current appointment/retention thresholds for these schools are 16/13, 52/49, and 82/79.
Any further improvement will be considered as part of the budgetary process.
