Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 751: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the pupil enrolment of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 for each of the past three years; the basis on which it has been decided to reduce teachers in the school; and if this decision will be reviewed in view of the impact of required increases in individual class size due to the obligation to mix children from different years. [27403/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, 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 to all primary schools each year.

Data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy indicate that the pupil enrolment figures on 30th September for the past three years are as follows:

2004 264

2005 266

2006 261

In accordance with the staffing schedule (Circular 0020/2007), which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, the mainstream staffing in the school for the 2007/08 school year is a Principal and 10 mainstream class teachers.

According to data submitted by the Board of Management the enrolment in the school on 30th September 2007 was 229 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 be a Principal and 8 mainstream class teachers.

The staffing schedule allocates teachers within enrolment bands and the current bands are based on an average of 27 pupils. While the schedule allocates on the basis of an average each individual school decides how to arrange its classes. Where it is possible, Principals should consider the benefits of having smaller multi-grade classes as against having particularly large differences in class sizes at different levels in the school. Multi-grade classes are the norm in the majority of our primary schools given the number of relatively small schools that have 4 teachers or less and there is no evidence whatsoever that being taught in a multi-grade setting is to the detriment of the child.

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 first meeting of the Appeal Board to consider applications for the 2008/09 school year took place on 20th May, 2008. Another meeting will be held in October, 2008 and the closing date for receipt of appeals is 10 October. 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.

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