Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
253 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he had discussions with the various denominational school authorities of small rural schools with a view to minimising the impact of any budgetary constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19911/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. However, this does not mean that small schools can stand still or never have their staffing levels changed to something that is more affordable and sustainable for these difficult and challenging times. A Value for Money examination of small schools has been carried out and my Department expects to publish the analysis and findings in the near future. I hope that this report will foster constructive engagement both in the Oireachtas and among all interested parties in looking at the challenges ahead and how best to make provision for primary education in rural and dispersed communities. How best to sustain provision for widely dispersed and small Protestant communities will present as a particular challenge particularly in any locality where enrolment in their schools is declining to single figures and amalgamation is not an option because there is no other school nearby. The Government is intent in fostering pluralism in school provision. Supporting minority churches in maintaining their schools is part of that policy and will inform how the Government approaches the outcome of the Value for Money Study.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met last week. A total of 72 small schools submitted applications to the Appeals Board. Some 34 small schools had their appeals provisionally upheld by the Appeals Board on the basis of their projected increase in enrolments. The retention of the classroom teachers in these 34 schools is conditional on confirmation from the schools in September that their actual enrolments reach the required level. If the required level of enrolments is not in the schools in September then the classroom teaching posts will be automatically withdrawn and the teacher will be redeployed to another school.
My Department's officials will be working with schools and the relevant education partners to ensure that the teacher allocation and redeployment processes operate as efficiently as possible. In this regard the Department is in regular and on-going contact with the relevant management bodies for all primary schools.
