Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
176. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio at DEIS primary schools to 15:1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23013/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the 2020/21 school year there are 3,108 mainstream primary schools. Each 1 point adjustment to the overall primary staffing schedule is estimated to cost in the region of €4.7m in the first year and €14.3m for the full year.
As the Deputy is aware, there are 689 primary schools participating in the DEIS programme. Under DEIS, a reduced class size is applied to all 229 Urban Band 1 primary schools with the application of a staffing schedule to DEIS Band 1 schools to accommodate class size of 20:1 at junior classes and 24:1 at senior classes. This is in line with the objective of supporting those schools with the highest levels of disadvantage.
A reduction in class size in all DEIS schools would be a change in policy and create a new element to the staffing schedule of enrolment of pupils governing the appointment and retention of mainstream class teachers.
Appendix A of Circular 19/2019 sets out the schedule of enrolment of pupils governing the appointment and retention of mainstream class teachers and is available on my Department’s website at the following link ;
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/circular-0019-2019-appendix-a.pdf
