Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 894: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will take steps to ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has been employed at a national school in County Westmeath since September 2002 as a special needs assistant, is paid the additional hour; if this situation will be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10433/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The National Council for Special Education, which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. A total of 71 special educational needs organisers have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents. My Department officials have been informed by the NCSE that the matter was referred to the local special educational needs organiser, who has since been in contact with the school authorities regarding the matter.

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 895: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will take steps to ensure the appointment of an extra class teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath from the 1 September 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10434/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule agreed between my Department and the education partners. In accordance with the staffing schedule, the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and four mainstream class teachers, based on an enrolment of 117 pupils on 30 September 2003. In addition, the school has the service of a learning support teacher. My Department will finalise the staffing schedule for the 2005-06 school year shortly and thereafter notify school boards of management.

According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management of the school, the enrolment on 30 September 2004 was 137 pupils. The staffing for the 2005-06 school year will be determined on the basis of this figure and in accordance with the agreed staffing schedule.

As outlined in primary circular 19/02, an independent appeals board was established to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeals board operates independently of the Minister and my Department and its decision is final. Appeals must be submitted to the primary payments section of the Department of Education and Science in Athlone, on the standard application form, clearly stating the criterion under which the appeal is being made, after the schedule for the 2005-06 school year has been issued.