Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
211. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education her views with regard to the schedule of enrolment of pupils governing in the appointment and retention of mainstream class teachers in ordinary schools, Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht national schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29010/23]
View answerUnder the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and supporting small schools and I am delighted that significant progress has been made.
In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the lowest ever seen at primary level. This was my third successive Budget which saw an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. Budget 2021 reduced the staffing schedule to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils, while Budget 2022 reduced it further to 1 classroom teacher for every 24 pupils. 2021 saw the introduction of a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which assists schools which would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
This significantly increased investment reflects my commitment and that of Government to support the educational success of learners and to provide a quality inclusive school system with improved learning outcomes for all.
This builds on measures in previous budgets which has seen improvements in the overall allocation of teaching posts and specific targeted measures for small and isolated schools as well as primary schools on our islands.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board, including a specific measure aimed at small schools.
