Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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380. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when additional funding will be provided for a classroom and additional teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5682/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 irrespective of location.

Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level.  Budget 2021 builds on this progress by implementing a further 1 point reduction for the appointment of a teacher in the 2021/22 school year and a three point reduction in the retention schedule.  These measures will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.

The staffing schedule for the 2021/22 school year will be published in the coming weeks.  It is at this stage that schools will be able to establish their staffing for the coming September and the redeployment process to fill teaching vacancies will begin.