Small school staffing
Deputy Collins questioned when staffing commitments for small schools would be addressed after negative appeals board decisions in his constituency. The Minister said primary pupil-teacher ratios had improved, the appeals board was independent, and small schools would continue to be examined as resources allowed.
The programme for Government contains a commitment to address the staffing requirements of small schools within the first 100 days of the new Administration. This was followed up during the recent budget announcement that more teachers would be hired. It came as a great disappointment to two schools in my constituency, Carrigkerry national school and Ballybrown national school, to receive negative determinations from the primary staffing appeals board in circumstances where they are losing teachers. When will the Government address pupil-teacher ratios and staffing issues in small schools and other national schools in my constituency and across the country given its promises in the programme for Government and the recent Budget Statement?
Comment on this
From September, there is an improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools that was provided for in the 2016 budget.
Decisions on the new schedule are taken independently by the appeals board. It is an independent decision and the board makes its decisions independent of the Minister.
On small schools, we were able to make a start this year for some island schools. We will continue to examine this issue as part of the programme for Government as resources become available.