Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will support a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [21724/08]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the pupil enrolment figures for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and the teachers appointed for each of the past five years. [22010/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 325 together.

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.

Data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputies indicates that the pupil enrolment figures on 30 September for the past five years are as follows:

In accordance with the relevant staffing schedules which are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, the mainstream staffing in the school for the school years 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 is a Principal and 14 mainstream class teachers. According to data submitted by the Board of Management the enrolment in the school on 30 September 2007 was 388 pupils. In accordance with the staffing schedule (Circular 0010/2008), which is also available on my Department's website at www.education.ie and a hard copy of which has been issued to all primary schools, the mainstream staffing in the school for the 2008/09 school year will remain a Principal and 14 mainstream class teachers.

The school also has the services of three Learning Support/Resource Teachers and one Resource Teacher for Special Needs Pupils. Within the terms of the staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision for additional posts, referred to as developing school posts, to be assigned to schools on the basis of projected enrolments for the next school year. Under these arrangements, a developing school post may be sanctioned provisionally where the projected enrolment at 30 September of the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is not achieved on 30 September, sanction for the post is withdrawn.

It is open to the Board of Management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Details of the criteria and application dates for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule. The criteria are also available in Circular 0024/2007 (Appeal Board for Mainstream Staffing in Primary Schools) which is available on my Department's website.

The staffing of the school for the 2008/2009 school year was considered by the Appeal Board on 20 May 2008. The Board, having considered the appeal with regard to the criteria outlined in Circular 0024/2007, was satisfied that a departure from the staffing schedule is not warranted in this case. The Board of Management of the school was notified in writing of the decision of the Appeal Board on 22 May 2008.