Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason her Department decided to let go three teachers in a primary school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if this decision means a 20% reduction in the teaching staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21672/05]

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 the Department of Education and Science and the education partners. In the current school year, the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises 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 that 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 appeal board is now in place. The criteria under which an appeal can be made are set out in the Department of Education and Science's primary circular 19-02, which is also available on its website. The appeal 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 the primary payments section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone on the standard application form, clearly stating the criteria under which they are being made. The application form is available from the primary payments section of my Department 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 appeal board.

I recently announced the introduction of a general allocation model to provide for teaching supports for pupils with high incidence disabilities and those with learning support requirements. Two posts have been allocated to the school referred to in respect of this cohort of pupils. Individual allocations of resource teaching support for pupils with low incidence disabilities will continue to be provided on the basis of an individual application for each child. Such applications are processed by the local special educational needs organiser. My Department's records indicate that this school is eligible to retain one post in respect of pupils with low incidence special educational needs for the forthcoming school year. The net effect is that the school will be retaining three of its special education posts to cater for the needs of pupils with learning difficulties and special educational needs for the forthcoming school year. The levels are appropriate in the context of reducing enrolments and the current number of pupils with special educational needs requiring a service. I am satisfied that the resources available to the school are sufficient to provide for the ongoing needs of these pupils.