Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 891: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the turmoil that will ensue at a school (details supplied) in County Galway by the proposed withdrawal of two teaching posts under Giving Children an Even Break urban staffing arrangements for the 2006-2007 school year; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the school is trying to cope with the educational needs of 86 children in the learning support and resource area; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there are 51 Traveller children in the school, which should ensure that if the 15:1 pupil-teacher ratio is to be achieved, there should be an additional teacher made available; if her attention has further been drawn to the deep seated socio economic and psychological problems encountered by many pupils in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15070/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the current school year, 2005-2006, is one principal, ten mainstream class teachers, two permanent and two temporary learning support-resource teachers, LS-RTs, two permanent resource teachers for Travellers, RTT, two supply project teachers, one temporary language support teacher and three teachers under giving children an even break.

The general allocation of LS-RTs to schools is intended to cater for children with learning support and high incidence special educational needs. LS-RT allocations are based on pupil numbers, taking into account the differing needs of the most disadvantaged schools and the evidence that boys have greater difficulties than girls in this regard.

The allocation for the school referred to by the Deputy is 2.9 posts. Disadvantaged schools eligible for additional staffing under the giving children an even break scheme, such as the school in question, have a preferential pupil-teacher allocation ratio of 80:1 under the general allocation.

The new system has a number of benefits associated with it, among which are that it facilitates early intervention as the resource is in place when the child enrols and it puts resources in place on a more systematic basis, thereby giving schools more certainty about their resource levels. It is also the case that it reduces the need for individual applications and supporting psychological assessments and allows flexibility to school management in the deployment of resources. It is intended that a review of the general allocation model will be undertaken within three years of operation.

Schools may also be allocated individual resource teaching allocations in respect of pupils with low incidence special educational needs, as appropriate. Applications for such support should be submitted by the school in question to the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, for consideration. Any concerns the school authorities have in regard to their resource teaching allocation for such pupils may be referred to the SENO. Similarly applications for special needs assistant, SNA, support in respect of pupils with special educational needs should be referred by the school to the local SENO.

I advise the Deputy that officials from my Department will contact the school shortly regarding the matter of additional resource teaching support for Traveller pupils and their staffing allocation under giving children an even break for the 2006-07 school year.

The provision of therapy services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding is provided to the HSE for such purposes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 892: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the high pupil-teacher ratio that exists at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that two fully fitted and insured classrooms are idle due to lack of adequate teaching staff; if she will take the necessary steps to address the issue by way of appointing at least one extra teacher to this developing school, in view of the fact that enrolments in 2005 were twice that of the number of children who completed their education and left the school in that year, and projected ratios for 2006 are of a similar nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15087/06]

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. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year.

According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management of the school in question, the enrolment in the school on 30 September 2005 was 232 pupils. In accordance with the staffing schedule, circular 0023/2006, which has issued to all primary schools and is also available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, the mainstream staffing in the school for the 2006-07 school year will be a principal and eight mainstream class teachers.

To ensure openness and transparency in the system an independent appeal board is in place to decide on any appeals. The criteria under which an appeal can be made are set out in Department primary circular 24/06.

The board of management of the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal to the staffing appeal board. The appeal will be considered by the board at a meeting which is scheduled to take place in May. The board of management will be notified of the outcome of the appeal as soon as possible thereafter. The appeal board operates independently of the Minister and my Department and its decision is final.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent appeal board.