Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reverse the announced loss of a teacher for the coming school year for a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that Kildare has the highest pupil-teacher ratio nationally and that Celbridge is one of the fastest developing parts of the county. [18815/05]

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 the 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. 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 the current school year the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises of a principal and 19 mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 534 pupils at 30 September 2003. The school also has two learning support posts, a resource post and a temporary language support post. The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will consist of a principal and 18 mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 504 pupils at 30 September 2004.

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.