Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 695: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 15 December 2004, if a decision has been made on the extension of the sanction for the concessionary post referred to. [19160/05]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 735: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status and future of the concessionary teaching post at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19438/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 735 together.

I am pleased to inform the Deputies that my Department is prepared to approve the concessionary post in question for the 2005-06 school year. The position will be reviewed for the 2006-07 school year.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 696: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when funding will be approved for the operation of a school (details supplied) attached to the Central Technical Institute, Clonmel; when the necessary additional teaching staff will be approved to allow the coláiste to progress to its second year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19165/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for capital funding from the school referred to by the Deputy was considered under the recent review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. Under this review, all projects were assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. Each project has been assigned a band rating and the progress of all projects, including that referred to by the Deputy, is being considered in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards.

With regard to the issue of teaching resources, teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its teaching time-table and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.

The rules for allocating teaching resources provide that where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department will consider applications for additional short-term support.

The school referred to by the Deputy operates under the auspices of County Tipperary South Riding Vocational Education Committee. This authority applied for curricular concessions for the 2005-06 school year and following consideration of the application, my Department granted 3.69 wholetime equivalent teacher posts. An independent appeals committee is available to school authorities who wish to appeal the adequacy of their allocations. The VEC appealed to this committee and has been granted a further 1.50 wholetime equivalent posts. The committee operates independently of my Department and its decisions are final.