Loss of three teaching posts at St Mary’s National School, Tallaght “unjustifiable” – Deputy Seán Crowe

Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe, TD, has said that figures obtained from the Department of Education and Skills (DES) which confirm St Mary’s National School in Tallaght is to lose three DEIS teaching posts in September will place unacceptable pressure on teachers and greatly impact on the ability of children to reach their full academic potential.

Deputy Crowe said: “St Mary’s National School in Tallaght is a school that is in the frontline in servicing a community that has changed greatly over recent years. The recession has resulted in significantly higher levels of disadvantage which is impacting on families whose children attend the school. Despite this, St Mary’s is set to lose three teachers when the new academic year commences in September because it does not have DEIS Band status despite meeting all of the criteria for inclusion in the scheme.

“The loss of these three teaching posts is unjustifiable and here we have a situation where a school is being penalised because it has been forced it to cap its pupil intake. To compound matters further, the stagnant enrolment figures do not reflect the growing demand there is for entry into St Mary’s and where a lack of funding is preventing the school from meeting the needs of the local community.

“St Mary’s National School, like many other schools across the State has been placed in a Catch 22 situation where it is losing important teaching posts because of changes to the pupil teacher ratio yet it is excluded from entry to DEIS because of cuts to the education budget.

“The Minister’s reversal of his decision to cut 235 pre-DEIS legacy posts shows how important such schools are in ensuring children have access to a high standard of education. It is simply not good enough that schools such as St Mary’s cannot access the type of additional support that is available through the DEIS system and which can make all the difference to the life chances of a child.

“It is also grossly unfair that they are being doubly penalised because they have had to cap their enrolment numbers at a time when the necessary provision is unavailable for the school to expand its existing facilities.”