Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33327/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its timetable and subject options having regard to pupils' needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The rules for allocating teaching resources provide that if a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department will consider applications for additional short term support i.e. curricular concessions. An application for curricular concessions was received and Ballinamore Post Primary School was allocated 0.45 wholetime equivalent teacher post. An independent appeals mechanism is available to school authorities who wish to appeal the adequacy of their teacher allocation. Ballinamore Post Primary School availed of this appeals mechanism and was allocated a further 0.55 wholetime equivalent teacher post. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. As the Appeals Committee operates independently of my Department in taking its decisions, you will appreciate that it would not be appropriate to intervene in any such decision. The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for the school in question. Following a re-advertisement for possible sites, a number of new proposals were received. All site options have been examined by the OPW. My Department is awaiting clarification from OPW on a number of issues relating to the site proposals.