Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an extra teacher will be put in place at a school (details supplied) in County Cork to avoid the necessity for split classes. [28108/07]

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 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued annually to all primary schools.

According to data submitted to the Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy, the enrolment in the school on 30th September 2006 was 196 pupils. In accordance with the staffing schedule (Circular 0020/2007), which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie and a hard copy of which has issued to all primary schools, the mainstream staffing in the school for the 2007/08 school year is a Principal and 7 mainstream class teachers. The school also has the services of 3 Permanent Learning Support/Resource Posts.

According to further data submitted to the Department by the Board of Management of the school, the enrolment in the school on 30th September 2007 was 192 pupils. The staffing of the school for the 2008/2009 school year will be based on this figure and on the new staffing schedule for the 2008/09 school year which will issue from my Department early in 2008. An independent appeal board is now in place to decide on any appeals on mainstream staffing in primary schools. Details of the appeal procedure are outlined in Department Circular 0024/2007 which is available on my Department's website. The appeal board operates independently of the Department and it's decision is final.