Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 491: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she or her Department have received correspondence regarding a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will grant the school an additional mainstream teacher for 2006 and 2007. [24336/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment in the school on 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule is outlined in Primary Circular 23/06 which issued to all primary schools recently.

Under the staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision for the allocation of an additional post where a school experiences rapid growth in its enrolment. In such cases, an additional post, referred to as a developing school post, may be sanctioned provisionally where the projected enrolment at 30th September of the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is not achieved on 30th September, sanction for the post is withdrawn.

The enrolment in the school referred to by the Deputy on 30th September 2005 was 108 pupils, which warrants a staffing of Principal plus 3 mainstream posts for the 2006/2007 school year. The projected enrolment submitted by the Board of Management did not meet with the criteria required for developing school status and accordingly, the application was turned down.

To ensure transparency and openness in the system an independent Appeals Board is now in place to decide on any mainstream staffing appeals. The criteria under which an appeal can be made are set out in Primary Circular 0024/2006, which is available on my Department's website. The closing date for receipt of appeals for the next Appeals Board meeting is 18th October 2006.