2 Jul 2013, 17:44
The challenges facing small primary schools will be considered by Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection tomorrow afternoon.
2 July 2013
Representatives from the Catholic Primary School Management Association, the Church of Ireland Board of Education and the Department of Education and Skills are before the Committee to consider pupil-teacher ratios and financial challenges facing small primary schools.
Committee Chair Joanna Tuffy TD says: “Small schools are at the heart of rural and indeed many urban communities in every corner of the country. There are worries nationwide within communities that these schools are particularly vulnerable to changes in the pupil-teacher ratios that were announced in the 2012 Budget. Tomorrow we will have an opportunity to hear from two school patron bodies on their perspective on pupil-teacher ratios as well as on-going financial challenges.
“Officials from the Department of Education are expected to respond to these concerns, outlining the current budgetary pressures in the education sector. These pressures arise from both the budgetary adjustments of recent years as well as the changing demographic conditions which have led to a significant increase in pupil numbers in recent years.”
The committee meeting takes place tomorrow 3 July at 1 pm in Committee Room 3, LH 2000. It will commence with discussions around a political contribution the Committee is planning to make on the recent EU Council recommendation for a European Youth Guarantee.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
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
Marie Louise O’Donnell