20 one-teacher schools to be asked to amalgamate

More than 20 primary schools will be asked to consider amalgamation or closure as part of a new procedure being finalised on the future of one-teacher schools.

The Department of Education says just over half the 44 one-teacher schools fall within the criteria under which their patron will be invited to initiate local consultation on future sustainability. This will take place in cases where a school is within 8km of another with the same type of patronage and the same language of instruction.

The protocol being worked on by the department, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), and school management bodies was described in an announcement of new small schools policy by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan as voluntary. But her officials will be writing to the bishops in control of all such schools, or those whose pupil numbers fall under 25, to ask them to reflect on their future.

It is intended that engagement should take place with the department on the supports available, where amalgamations are decided on, such as staffing, transport and capital funding to accommodate any pupil increases at existing neighbouring schools.

The Catholic Primary School Management Association CPSMA said it is enormously helpful that a single contact person will be available in the department for schools that wish to amalgamate or close.

There will be a minimal cost to the department of other measures announced by Ms O’Sullivan yesterday in relation to small schools. Although few schools, if any, will gain teachers, there will be a reprieve for more than 20 that were due to lose a staff members next autumn under staffing changes in place since 2012.

From September, a school will need 19 pupils to keep a second teacher, rather than the current figure of 20. But it will still be far short of the 12 enrolments for which a second teacher could be appointed up to previous minister Ruairi Quinn’s budgetary changes.

To retain a third teacher, the threshold will fall from 56 to 53 pupils (it was previously 49), and the cut-off for retaining a fourth teacher drops from 86 to 83 (it was 81 pre-2012).

There will be no change to the numbers needed to appoint an extra teacher, except for schools 8km or more from the nearest school of the same patronage and language of instruction. Such schools can now appoint a second teacher or retain an existing one with just 15 pupils, instead of the current figure of 20.

While there had been strong Fine Gael backbench opposition to further cuts or restrictions at small primary schools, a spokesperson for the minister said she listened to concerns from rural Labour TDs and education groups in recent months.

“It wouldn’t necessarily be an issue that breaks down on party lines,” he said.