Written answers

Tuesday, 14 June 2005

Department of Education and Science

School Staffing

9:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 732: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will assist a school (details supplied) in County Cork in resolving a staffing issue before 7 June 2005; and if she will give the maximum support in retaining a teacher. [19408/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary 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.

In the current school year the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises a principal and five mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 148 pupils at 30 September 2003. The school also has the services of a learning support post and a full time resource post. The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will consist of a principal and four mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 144 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. The board of management of the school has submitted an appeal to the staffing appeals board. The appeal will be considered by the appeals board at a meeting, which is scheduled to take place on 14 June. The board of management will be notified of the outcome of the appeal as soon as possible thereafter. 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.

The school in question has indicated that it may have sufficient hours allocated in respect of pupils with low incidence special needs to warrant an additional resource teaching post. In order to establish if the school has an entitlement to a post, it is open to the school to submit a proposal giving details as to how the post may be created. No such proposal has been received in my Department to date.

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