Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 January 2012

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Ceisteanna (257)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

248 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the effect the budget cuts will have on staff resources in schools; the plans, if any, he has to reverse any budgetary measures that will impact on the pupil-teacher ratio in view of the fact that this will seriously impact on the schools' ability to continue the level of teaching they have provided to children up until now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1283/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

While difficult choices had to be made to identify savings across my Department's remit, the Government has gone as far as it could to protect front line services in 2012. The Government has protected the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level, prioritised targeted support for the most disadvantaged schools and maintained the overall number of resource teachers and SNAs to support children with special needs.

However, the staffing arrangements in schools for the 2012/13 school year can also be affected by changes in their enrolment, the impact of other budget measures and the reforms to the teacher allocation process. The reform of the allocation process is designed to bring a more equitable distribution of existing posts between schools so there will inevitably be some schools that will lose posts and some schools that will gain posts.

My Department will be notifying schools in the coming weeks of the new staffing arrangements for 2012/13 school year.

Question No. 249 answered with Question No. 149.