Education Committee to discuss pupil teacher ratios in Gaeltacht schools

28 May 2013

Based in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta was established in 2006 to provide help, guidance and support for Gaeltacht schools at primary and secondary level all over the country.

Chair of the Committee Joanna Tuffy TD says: “The value of small schools to Gaeltacht communities, and to rural communities generally, is widely recognised.   It is estimated that about 80 percent of Gaeltacht primary schools have 4 teachers or less and there are worries among communities that these schools are particularly vulnerable to changes in the pupil-teacher ratios that were announced in the 2012 Budget.   However, the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn has argued that such schools cannot be immune from the measure being introduced to address the difficulties facing the public finances. Acknowledging too the vital role that Gaeltacht schools play in sustaining the Irish language, our Committee looks forward to engaging with the representative group for Gaeltacht schools - Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta - on their perspective on the cuts.\"

The meeting takes place tomorrow 29 May at 1pm in Committee Room 4. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie

Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Ray Butler, Fine Gael
Joan Collins, People Before Profit
Clare Daly, Independent
Brendan Griffin, Fine Gael
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil
Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael
Jonathan O'Brien, Sinn Féin
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party (Vice Chair)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil
Brendan Ryan, Labour Party
Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party (Chair)

Senators:
Jim D’Arcy
Fidelma Healy Eames
Marie Moloney
Averil Power
Diarmuid Wilson