Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 960: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will appoint an extra full-time classroom teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11004/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school have class sizes of greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use their teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes.

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 11 mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 305 pupils at 30 September 2003. In addition the school has the services 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 313 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 primary payments section, Department of Education and Science, 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 issued.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 961: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she will take to improve the pupil-teacher ratio at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if this school will retain its special needs assistants. [11007/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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 for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and nine mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 239 pupils at 30 September 2003. In addition, the school has a full time resource teacher, two learning support teachers, three special class teachers, one home school liaison post, a disadvantaged concessionary post and a language support post. Hence, the pupil-teacher ratio in the school is 12.58:1. 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, the school's enrolment on 30 September 2004 was 248 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 primary payments section, Department of Education and Science, 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 issued.

The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education which was established recently, and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. To date, 71 special educational needs organisers have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents.