Update: Providing for Small Rural Denominational Schools, 1st July 2015

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which she remains
satisfied of her ability and the need to provide for smaller rural
denominational schools with particular reference to adhering to traditional
commitments while at the same time introducing an adequate degree of
modernisation to secure high standard and quality of education throughout the
primary sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.

The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are
set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department’s
website.
The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16
school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention
thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved
appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.

These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small
schools that are more than 8km from the next nearest school of the same type.

This package of measures will provide rural communities with security about the
future of their small schools, recognising the essential social function which
small schools can play, especially in isolated communities.