Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 695: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she will take to address the teaching staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal in view of the fact that this school's first mainstream teacher was removed in June 2005 and has only one teacher with 12 children enrolled in September 2005. [28669/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. The staffing schedule is outlined in a circular that is issued annually to all primary schools. The enrolment in the school referred to by the Deputy on 30 September 2004 warranted a staffing of one teacher. In addition, the school, which is in the rural dimension of the Giving Children an Even Break programme for funding, has the services of a shared rural co-ordinator.

To ensure transparency and openness in the system, an independent primary staffing appeal board is now in place to decide on any appeals on mainstream staffing. The staffing of the school for the 2005-06 school year was considered by the appeal board on 14 June 2005 and was rejected. I understand that the board of management of the school was notified of the decision of the appeal board on 15 June 2005. The decision is final. 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.