Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment today. I am glad to have the opportunity to outline the position regarding this school.

The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year.

Data submitted to the Department by the board of management of the school referred to by the Deputy indicates that the enrolment in the school on 30 September 2005 was 229 pupils. In accordance with the staffing schedule, Circular 0023/2006, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie, the mainstream staffing in the school for the 2006-07 school year is a principal and eight mainstream class teachers.

The enrolment in the school on 30 September 2006 was 227 pupils. In accordance with the staffing schedule, Circular 0020/2007, which is available on the Department's website and a hard copy of which has issued to all primary schools, the mainstream staffing in the school for the 2007-08 school year will be a principal and eight mainstream class teachers.

Within the terms of the staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision for additional posts, referred to as developing school posts, to be assigned to schools on the basis of projected enrolments for the next school year. Under these arrangements, a developing school post may be sanctioned provisionally where the projected enrolment at 30 September of the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is not achieved on 30 September, sanction for the post is withdrawn.

It is open to the board of management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeal board established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Details of the criteria and application dates for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule. They are also available in circular 0024/2007, which is available on the Department's website. Hard copies of this circular were issued to primary schools.

The school referred to lodged an appeal with the primary staffing appeal board. This appeal was heard at the appeal board meeting on 22 May 2007 and was refused. The board of management of the school was notified in writing of the decision of the appeal board on 24 May 2007. The appeal board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in the operation of the independent appeal board.

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