Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 900: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the employment of a person (details supplied) in County Clare at a primary school in County Tipperary; if the employment status of this person has been clarified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15256/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's position is that a fully qualified primary teacher must be appointed to fill a special class post in a primary school. The person referred to by the Deputy is not regarded as qualified and therefore is not eligible for appointment to the post in question. My Department has advised the school that it must secure the services of a fully qualified primary teacher.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 901: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be allowed to maintain a teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15257/06]

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 referred to by the Deputy, the enrolment in the school on 30 September 2005 was 11 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 teacher.

To ensure openness and transparency in the system an independent appeal 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 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 appeal 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. 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.