I raise the issue of teacher allocations and the apparent inflexibility of the current system. The key factor for determining the number of teachers for the next school year is the number of pupil enrolments in the previous year. I am dealing with a situation in a school in Bray where, despite the school having had a significant increase in student numbers over the course of the school year, it is stuck with the allocation from the previous year. Is this the best way to do it? Could we look at some other system, especially in areas where we are seeing significant fluctuations in school population growth?

I think all TDs in the House will have had experience of dealing with individual cases where schools might have fallen just on the wrong side of the relevant threshold to keep an existing teacher or to get an additional teacher. My understanding is that it is based on a point in time. I think it is the end of September of the previous year in question but I also understand there is a provision where a case can be made by a school to the Minister and the Department based on the circumstances. For example, if there has been a significant change in numbers, I understand that a case can be made, so I encourage the Deputy to take up the issue with the Minister, Deputy Foley.