Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there is a planned reduction in teacher numbers for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if so, the number of teachers to be dropped; and the reason for the reduction in teacher numbers. [20978/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule, agreed between my Department and the education partners. In the current school year the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises of a principal and ten mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 273 pupils at 30 September, 2003. In addition, the school has two learning support posts and three resource teaching posts. In accordance with the staffing schedule which issued recently to boards of management, the mainstream staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year will be a principal and nine mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 238 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 met on 14 June and will meet again in July and October to consider appeals on the mainstream teaching allocation to schools for the 2005-06 school year.

The closing dates for appeals for the forthcoming July and October meetings are 24 June and 7 October 2005, respectively. 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. The application form is available from primary payments section or on my Department's website.

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.