School Enrolments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 February 2024

Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Questions (91)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

91. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will look into enrolment challenges currently being experienced by a school (details supplied) where, even though it has the physical space for the children applying to enrol, departmental regulations mean it cannot employ the necessary extra teacher required until 2025, which means it is having to turn away children who have already completed the 2 ECCE preschool years, with some children going to almost six years of age starting primary school. [8394/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

The staffing arrangements include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment.

The staffing process also contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeals process includes a criteria for schools which are not gaining an additional teaching post under the projected enrolments process but make a significant contribution to the provision of school places and are under pressure on their class sizes at infants level. Information and application forms are available in Circular 0011/2024 on the Department website.