Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teaching posts which will be required at primary level and secondary level each year for the next three years to maintain the pupil-teacher ratio at current levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36716/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the 500 teaching posts provided for in the renewed programme for Government will be additional to those which will be automatically added to the system in the next three years to accommodate the increase in student population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36717/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 567 together.

The 500 posts provided for in the reviewed Programme for Government are intended to be additional to those required to accommodate the increase in student population. My Department is keeping projections for future enrolment under constant review as the precise impact of net migration levels is somewhat uncertain.

My Department is currently operating on the basis of an estimated additional teacher requirement of the order of between 600 and over 700 posts at primary level for each of the next two school years. Estimates for the 2012-13 school year at primary level is of the order of 950 additional posts.

At post-primary level the estimated additional teacher requirement is of the order of between 330 and 360 posts for each of the next two school years. Estimates for 2012-13 school year at post-primary level is of the order of 500 additional posts.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 568: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools which have submitted an appeal to his Department on the mainstream staffing allocations for 2009/2010; the number of appeals which have been successful; the number of additional posts which have been allocated on the grounds of these appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36718/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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84 appeals in regard to mainstream posts in the 2009-2010 school year were submitted to the primary staffing appeal board to date. 21 of these appeals were successful and resulted in the allocation of an equivalent number of mainstream teaching posts. Four of the unsuccessful applicant schools were subsequently allocated a post by my Department based on their projected enrolment for September 2009. The appeal board is meeting again on 22 October 2009 to consider additional cases currently being submitted. It is open to any board of management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeal board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0002/2009 and Circular 0015/2009 - Meeting the needs of pupils learning English as an Additional Language. Both circulars are available on my Department's website.

The Appeal Board normally meets in May, June 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. The appeal board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.