Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of submissions he has received from various schools here seeking the provision of extra teaching staff in order to reduce class sizes in each of the past three years; the number of requests that were approved, rejected or pending in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19510/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to appeals to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board, details of which I am enclosing for the Deputy's information. It is open to any 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, which is 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 the website. The Appeal Board meets in May, July and October of 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.