Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the names of those on the panel of the staffing appeals board; the number of times the number of times the board has met; the number of successful and unsuccessful appeals heard each year over the past five years on a county basis by the staffing appeals board; the criteria determined by him for decisions by the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9092/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The members of the Appeal Board are: Dr. Tom McCarthy, Chairperson, Mr. Frank Davis, Ms. Monica Healy, Ms. Mairead McGowan and Mr. Sean Nolan. The information which the Deputy requested in relation to the number of appeals considered by the Appeal Board over the past five years is as follows.

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 0002/2009, 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 Appeal Board meets in May, July and October each year to consider cases submitted. Appeals must be submitted to Primary Allocations 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 Allocations Section or on my Department's website. Closing dates for receipt of staffing appeals in the current year are 29 April, 29 May and 9 October 2009.

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