Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that had successful appeals in relation to retention of a teacher for 2008-09; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22391/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the personnel who make up the appeals boards for schools that are losing a teacher because of the pupil-teacher ratio; if staff from his Department participate on the boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22392/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.

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, Circular 0010/2008, available on my Department's website. The criteria are also available in Circular 0024/2007 (Appeal Board for Mainstream Staffing in Primary Schools) which is also available on my Department's website.

The first meeting of the Appeal Board to consider applications for the 2008/09 school year took place on 20th May, 2008. Further meetings will be held in June and October, 2008. The closing dates for receipt of appeals are 20 June and 10 October respectively.

Appeals must be submitted to Primary Payments Section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, on the standard application form, clearly stating the criterion under which the appeal is being made. The standard application form is available from Primary Payments Section or on my Department's website.

At its meeting of 20 May 2008, the Board considered 25 appeals in relation to the 2008/09 school year. Three appeals were deferred until the October meeting of the Appeal Board when the school enrolments projected for 30 September 2008 will be available. The Appeal Board deferred a decision on 6 appeal applications pending receipt of further information and 16 appeals were refused.

The members of the Appeal Board are: Dr. Tom McCarthy, Chairperson, Mr. Frank Davis, Ms. Monica Healy, Ms. Mairead McGowan and Mr. Sean Nolan. Staff from the Primary Payments Section of my Department provide administrative assistance to the Appeal Board but are not members of the Board.

The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.