Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I still hold to the claim that 200 posts will go in the primary sector. All the indications my Department and I have suggest that the net effect will be that 1,100 teachers will be taken out and demographics will show that 900 teachers will come into the system. I might go through with the Deputy the various processes involved before we can come to the final result. We will not know the absolute figures until some time in October 2009 because, as the Deputy knows, the figures that went out this week are provisional and there is the appeals process. There are other posts to be allocated. Resource posts are allocated on an annual basis by application. There will be approximately 350 developing area posts. Many other factors must be examined and will impact on the final result. My officials and I are still happy that the net effect will be an overall reduction of 200 posts in the primary sector.

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