Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1041. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will take steps to allow a school (details supplied) to retain an eighth teacher given that the school now exceeds the threshold by six pupils but was one short in September and it will now have two super-sized split classes of 36 pupils each due to the increased numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30484/22]
View answerThe 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.
For the 2022/23 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 24 pupils which is a historical low ratio, with lower thresholds applying to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Details of the appeal process are available in Circular 25/2022.
