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

Question 360: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the decision to suppress two posts at a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be reviewed; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this school has just been granted €250,000 by her Department under the devolved schools initiative and to the proposal to reduce the number required for the appointment of executor principals from 180 to 146; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17084/05]

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

The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. That staffing schedule is outlined in primary circular 15/05, which was recently issued to all primary schools. That is in line with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners.

In the current school year, the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises a principal and seven mainstream class teaching posts. That is based on an enrolment of 180 pupils at 30 September 2003. The school also has a resource teaching post and the services of a learning support post based in the school.

The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will consist of a principal and five mainstream class teaching posts. That is based on an enrolment of 170 pupils at 30 September 2004.

The schedule referred to above can be deviated from only when a school experiences rapid growth in its enrolment. Rapid growth is defined as an increase in its enrolment in one year relative to the previous year of 25 pupils plus a stipulated excess of five pupils on the appointment figure. If the board of management of the school feels that the enrolment of the school will increase by that number, it may apply for a post under the developing schools criteria as outlined in Department circular 15/05.

To ensure openness and transparency in the system, an independent appeals board is now in place to decide on any appeals. The criteria under which an appeal can be made are set out in Department primary circular 19/02, which is also available on my Department's website. The appeals board will meet in June, July and October to consider appeals on the mainstream teaching allocation to schools for the 2005-06 school year. The closing dates for appeals are 3 June, 24 June and 7 October. Appeals must be submitted to the 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.

I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent appeals board.

My Department has now completed its review of the general allocation system of resource teaching support. I can confirm that 660 additional special needs teaching posts will be put in place in primary schools from next September to facilitate the implementation of the new general allocation system. The introduction of this new system will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 permanent posts in primary schools from September next. A further 320 posts are being provided on a temporary basis to facilitate the transition to the new system.

My Department has now devised school clusters in respect of allocations to be made under the general allocation system. Those have been notified to schools together with the details of each school's individual allocation. This communication clarifies the position regarding the resource and learning support allocation available to each school. My Department is also finalising a circular for schools which will contain detailed information on how the new system will operate. It is intended that the circular be issued before the end of the current school year.