25. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is aware of the situation in a school (details supplied) in Naas in relation to requirements for another teacher for the upcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54123/26]

The primary factor in determining the level of staffing resources allocated to an individual school is the applicable staffing schedule for the relevant school year, together with pupil enrolment as recorded on the preceding 30 September.

The staffing schedule operates as a standardised allocation mechanism, using enrolment bands to determine the number of classroom teaching posts assigned to each school.

At primary level, the staffing schedule plays a central role in supporting the sustainability of schools by aligning staffing resources with enrolment patterns in a clear, consistent, and equitable manner, ensuring that schools of a similar type are treated uniformly, irrespective of location.

St. Corban’s NS had three sixth classes leave the school at the end of the current school year and had originally sought to enroll two Junior Infant classes for the 2026/27 school year prior to agreeing to accept a third junior infant class in response to local school place pressures in the Naas area.

The enrolment at St. Corban’s National School decreased from 498 pupils in September 2024 to 460 pupils in September 2025. Based on an enrolment of 460 pupils, the school is allocated 19 mainstream classroom teachers for the 2026/27 school year. The school's projected enrolment for September 2026 is approximately 471 pupils in total and remains below the threshold for a twentieth mainstream teacher.

There have been several engagements from my officials with the principal in this matter. The principal has been advised to keep in contact with the Teacher Allocation section of my Department in relation to any additional enrolments that may arise during the summer months which may meet the threshold for additional staffing under projected enrolments criteria.

Within the staffing arrangements of Circular 0025/2026, there are options available to schools to apply for additional staffing. Schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using the projected enrolment criteria. There is also a staffing appeals mechanism for schools to apply to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board, under certain published criteria.

Class sizes in schools are affected by a variety of factors including enrolment fluctuations and available accommodation.

Schools are best placed to determine the appropriate numbers in any class and so the configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. There are multiple possible configurations.

The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account. School authorities should also, where possible, use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes.