Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will change the criteria of the appeal board to allow for a more flexible approach to be taken in determining appeals brought by schools in view of the impact that the loss of such appeals will have on the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24728/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is open to any Board of Management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was originally established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Details of the criteria for appeal of mainstream staffing are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0002/2009.

In light of the Budget 2009 decision my Department has now published a circular for schools, Circular 0015/2009, which sets out how the new arrangements will operate for the allocation of language support teachers from September 2009. The circular sets out a structured and transparent approach for the operation of the alleviation measures that were announced in the budget for schools that have a significant concentration of newcomer pupils. The alleviation measures mean that these schools can qualify for up to 4 language support (EAL) posts with the possibility of additional post(s) also being approved through the independent staffing appeals mechanism.

The process of allocating mainstream and EAL posts is a fair and equitable method of distributing valuable resources. I am satisfied that the current criteria for appealing the allocation of these posts allows for a transparent and objective method of addressing a range of specific challenges faced by schools. It is open to the Appeal Board to make recommendations in relation to the appeal criteria from time to time and the operation of the appeals process is kept under regular review in my Department.

The Appeal Board normally meets in May, June and October each year to consider cases submitted. Appeals must be submitted to Primary Allocations Section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, on the standard application form, clearly stating the criterion under which the appeal is being made. The standard application form is available from Primary Allocations Section or on my Department's website. Closing dates for receipt of staffing appeals in the current year are 29 April, 29 May and 9 October 2009. In order to facilitate the additional appeals arising from the inclusion of EAL appeals under circular 0015/2009, the Board will hold an additional meeting in August this year. The closing date for receipt of appeals for this meeting is 31 July 2009. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.