Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to staffing allocation approval by her Department at a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [25443/07]

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 time-table and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.

The rules for allocating teaching resources provide that where 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.

The school in question submitted an application for curricular concessions and was allowed to retain 9.56 whole-time equivalent surplus teaching posts. An independent appeals mechanism is available to school authorities who wish to appeal the adequacy of their teacher allocation. The school in question availed of this appeals mechanism and the Appeals Committee decided that no further allocation was warranted. The school was advised of this decision in writing on 11th June 2007. 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 for me to intervene in any such decision.