Written answer
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
The Minister defended 30 September enrolments as a transparent staffing basis, citing projected-enrolment applications and appeals for schools facing rapid growth.
272. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale of the 30 September date for pupil enrolments in determining teacher allocations for schools; if the date will be reviewed, given enrolment of pupils does not cease on that date, and given the consequences of decreased allocations for schools such as amalgamated classes of over 30 pupils. [66600/26]
Comment on this
281. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to PQ 63760/26 of 7 September 2026; if ongoing local development, lack of capacity in surrounding local schools and the unique experience of the school regarding enrolments will be considered in relation to teacher allocation, given the determining factors are restrictive and do not take into account local needs or the unique circumstances of the school. [66721/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 281 together.
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally.
Teaching allocations are determined by the enrolment of the school on the previous 30 September. This process enables the Department to have in place the necessary measures to assess the accuracy of returns and thereby strengthen the integrity of the resource allocation process and the equitable treatment of schools, whilst ensuring that publicly funded resources are properly allocated.
Within the staffing arrangements, 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 projected enrolment.
There is also a staffing appeals mechanism for schools to apply to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board, under certain published criteria. These criteria include one for those schools which received additional enrolments in the previous October, and another for schools with a projected enrolment post which do not meet the enrolment required by 30 September but expect to do so by Christmas. The next meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board will be held in October. Information and application forms are available in Circular 0025/2026.