Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she will respond to the needs of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13221/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level for the coming school year is the pupil enrolment at 30 September 2009.

The staffing schedule for the coming school year was recently published by my Department. The additional posts in the renewed Programme for Government enabled some improvement to be made to the staffing schedule. These improvements have been targeted at medium-to-larger schools which are typically under the greatest pressure in relation to class sizes.

The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools who are dissatisfied with their staffing allocation. The appeals criteria are outlined in the published staffing schedule which is available on my Department's website.

Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy.