Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
88. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied) is to lose a teacher for the coming school year, resulting in the two largest classes having to be divided up, despite enrolment numbers in excess of 25 for the past two years; if anything can be done to prevent this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28786/23]
View answerFor the 2023/24 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of a general average of 1 teacher for every 23 pupils, which is a historical low ratio.
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 enrolment thresholds for the appointment of classroom teachers for the 2023/24 school year are set out in Appendix A of Circular 0006/2023, available on the Department website. The school referred to by the Deputy will have a mainstream staffing of 7 classroom teachers for the coming school year, on the basis of a returned enrolment of 173 in September 2022.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final. Information on the appeals process and application forms are available in Circular 0006/2023.
