Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing commitment to, and interest in, all areas pertaining to education, particularly these cases.

Regarding the primary school, I have outlined that the application has been successful, pending the 30 September enrolment numbers. Regarding the campus and the post-primary schools, the Department provides the staffing allocation to each ETB on the basis of the overall enrolment of students within schools in the board's charge. Responsibility for the distribution of that staffing allocation falls upon the shoulders of the ETB's CEO.

Where there may be a specific shortfall and a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments for the students within its approved allocation, the Department considers applications for additional short-term support. This concession is available to enable the continuation of essential curricular provision. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools and ETBs can appeal against the allocations due to them under the staffing schedules. The ETB is free to submit an appeal under the criteria to the independent appeals board if it is the ETB's opinion that it is not in a position in a particular school to provide the curricular demands. It is within the remit of the ETB to do that, and the appeals board, which operates independently of the Department, gives consideration to all cases that are brought to its attention.

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