Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
88. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the actions that will be taken to ensure the continued operation of small schools in view of changing demographic trends in the years ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40093/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware small schools are defined for statistical purposes as schools with 4 mainstream teachers or less. While the number of small schools has declined in recent years, they nonetheless remain in very many rural communities. They are valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity.
There is a commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to recognise the importance of small schools. There is a further commitment not to close any small school without the consent of parents. The decision making authority for a school closure belongs to the Patron of a school, and this is subject to the agreement of my Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level.
Budget 2020 provided for improved teacher staffing levels for small schools. This measure saw a more favourable pupil teacher ratio in small schools from September 2020. This improved schedule will apply in two, three and four teacher schools and ensure one less pupil is required to retain/recruit a teacher. This builds on measures in previous budgets which has seen improvements in the appointment and retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and more favourable enrolment thresholds for one teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.
Small schools have also benefitted from the 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule for all schools implemented in 2016 and again in 2018. The staffing schedule at primary level currently operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher and will reduce to 25 pupils to every 1 teacher from September 2021 which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.
The work now underway in relation to small schools seeks to build on this and is being advanced through the Primary Education Forum.
