Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
290. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the urgent allocation of additional management capacity to a school (details supplied), specifically the appointment of a second administrative Deputy Principal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48563/26]
View answerI am aware of the particular challenges being experienced by the school referenced by the Deputy. My officials met with representatives of this school earlier this school year, as part of initial scoping work in the area of leadership supports. The issues raised are being considered in the context of ongoing policy development. The allocation of staffing resources to schools is determined by the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and is primarily based on pupil enrolments as of 30 September of the preceding year. These arrangements operate in a clear and transparent manner and ensure that all schools of a similar type are treated equitably. The staffing arrangements for the 2026/27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026.
Circular 0027/2025 further sets out the allocation of posts of responsibility to schools, which are based on the number of authorised teaching posts in the school. The appointment of Administrative Principals and Deputy Principals is determined on an enrolment basis, with the relevant thresholds outlined in Appendix B of Circular 0025/2026.
As part of Budget 2026 measures, the enrolment threshold required for the appointment of an Administrative Deputy Principal has been reduced from 573 to 550 pupils for the 2026/27 school year, thereby enhancing leadership capacity in larger schools. However, there is currently no provision within the staffing arrangements for the allocation of a second administrative Deputy Principal post to any school.
Furthermore, recognising the vital role played by school leaders, my Department has commenced a review of school leadership and system governance to examine how best to support school leaders in responding to increasing organisational and operational demands. This work will inform a longer-term strategy for the school sector under the Our Schools, Our Future framework.
In addition, my Department is currently piloting an Action Research Project on Administrative Executives, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government to reduce the administrative burden on principals and boards of management. This project, which commenced in November last year, is trialling the placement of a new administrative post in six schools, three primary and three post-primary, for a period of three years.
The aim of the project is to reduce the administrative workload of school principals, allowing them to focus more on teaching and learning. Dublin City University (DCU) has been commissioned to carry out an independent evaluation of the trial. This evaluation will assess the impact and feasibility of the role, including its effect on school leadership teams, and will help inform future decisions regarding the provision of additional administrative supports.
