Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if primary schools will be informed in sufficient time of their special needs staffing allocation for the 2005-06 school year to enable school principals, staffs and parents to plan and make adequate provision for the children's needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18258/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has now issued a letter to all primary schools notifying them of their teaching allocation under the new general allocation model for the 2005-06 school year. The letter also includes details of any clustering arrangements that may apply. 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 this circular will issue before the end of the current school year.

The introduction of the new system of teacher allocation for pupils with high incidence disabilities 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. It is a matter for schools to make arrangements to provide teaching support to those pupils who qualify for such support from its general allocation.

The Deputy may also be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which became operational on 1 January 2005, now processes applications for pupils with low incidence disabilities. Under the new arrangements, the council through the local SENO will process the relevant application for resources and inform schools directly of the outcome.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if another teacher at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18259/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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. This staffing schedule is outlined in primary circular 15/05 which issued to all primary schools recently. This 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 eight mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 209 pupils at 30 September 2003. The school also has the services of a learning support teacher. The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will consist of a principal and seven mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 204 pupils at 30 September 2004.

The schedule referred to above can only be deviated from when a school experiences rapid growth in its enrolment. In the case of a school with an enrolment of less than 299 pupils, 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 this amount, 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 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 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. These 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 this circular will issue before the end of the current school year.