School staffing and pupil ratios
Martin Kenny raised pressure on small rural schools and asked about the commitment to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. Richard Bruton said the ratio had already been reduced from 1 September, a review of small schools was under way, and further budget decisions were still pending.
On page 87 of the programme for Government document, it states there is a commitment to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio to produce smaller classes and have a greater and more beneficial impact on younger pupils. I am particularly interested in this in the context of smaller schools in rural Ireland. In my home parish of Aghavas, only two children started school this year and were stuck in a situation which saw the school reduced from three teachers to two. In Kiltyclogher in north Leitrim, where one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, Seán MacDiarmada, was born, it is expected that the school will close in the next two years because there are no more children arriving in that community. One of the reasons for that is rural depopulation. One cannot receive a signal on one's mobile phone and there is no broadband there. We have all of these issues in rural Ireland. The specific issue I wish to ask about today is the pupil-teacher ratio. In the budget in the next couple of weeks, will the Government do something to ensure the pupil-teacher ratio is brought into line with other European norms to ensure that our smaller schools in rural Ireland will not be under threat?
Comment on this
The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, will answer this question.
Comment on this
First, I am glad to tell the Deputy that as and from 1 September this year, the pupil-teacher ratio has been reduced in our primary schools. That measure was included in last year's budget and will, of course, have a carry-over cost into 2017 when the bulk of the year will be funded by the 2017 budget. There is also a review of the position of small schools under way. Like others, I cannot give the Deputy an indication at this stage what will be included in the budget. However, I am aware that there is much commitment to see improvements in the pupil-teacher ratio. Indeed, it was included in the confidence and supply agreement and in the programme for Government. Therefore, there is an interest in this area but, of course, those programmes are in place for the duration of the Government. I cannot therefore give an indication in respect of any particular budget.