Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number and the schools which will be losing teaching staff due to the new changes in the staffing schedule. [36277/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the schools which will not be in a position to gain extra teachers due to the new changes in the staffing schedule. [36278/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.

The specific information requested, by the Deputy, in relation to the detailed staffing allocations that individual schools will have for the commencement of the academic year 2009/10 cannot be determined until the allocation processes at primary and post-primary level have fully concluded. There is nothing exceptional in this. The allocation processes include appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules.

This is particularly relevant at post-primary level where the appellate process considers in particular any specific curricular needs of the school concerned. At primary level the final allocation to a school is also a function of the operation of the redeployment panels which provide for the retention of a teacher in the existing school if a new post is not available within the agreed terms of the scheme. At post-primary there is no effective system-wide redeployment scheme at present and this can mean that schools retain teachers, though over quota, and in addition discrete allocations are made to post-primary schools for example to cater for pupils with Special Educational Needs and those with Language difficulties and these allocations can also alter the ultimate position of the school in relation to any over quota position.

I want to clarify again that my Department's budget for next year has been prepared on the same fundamental basis as any other year by estimating the number of teachers that will be employed under the different categories (e.g mainstream, special needs and language support) and allowing for any change in overall demographics. Schools are currently returning data to my Department in relation to their enrolment as of 30 September. My Department has commenced processing these data although all schools have not yet made their returns. The allocation processes including notification to schools will commence early in the New Year.