Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2017

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Ceisteanna (194)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

194. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22 lost a mainstream teacher; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of this decision junior and senior infants are forced into multi-grade classes; his plans to address parents' concerns that their children's education will be negatively affected; and his further plans to restore this teaching post to the school in question in the best interests of the educational development of the children. [25735/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools are published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

Staffing arrangements for the 2017/18 school year are set out in circular 0017/2017 which is available on my Department's website.

The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The school referred to by the Deputy will have a mainstream teaching post suppressed for the 2017/18 school year due to falling enrolments.

The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

My Department has not received a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy.