Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 684: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of mainstream classroom teachers employed at primary level and second level for the 2009/2010 year; the number of students that attended both primary and second levels during the 2009/2010 year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31195/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The statistics section of my Department's website contains information relating to primary schools including the number of teachers in each school and enrolment data for the school years 2006-07 to 2008-09. The primary census for the 2009-10 school year is currently under way and the final outcome will be made available on 1 September 2010.

The public sector numbers for 30 June 2010 were 31,880 primary teachers and 27,870 post-primary teachers. Enrolment at post primary level for 2009-2010 is 350,687 pupils.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 685: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if the staffing schedule at primary or second level will change in the forthcoming school year as a consequence of the increase in demographics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31196/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. 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.

Pupil numbers at both primary and post-primary level continue to increase and this results in an increased requirement for additional teachers for the foreseeable future. The Deputy will be aware that the renewed programme for Government commits the Government to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio in primary and second level schools for the lifetime of this Government.

The renewed programme for Government also provides for 500 teaching posts to schools over the next three years over and above additional posts that will arise due to demographic increases.

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.

The final staffing position for all schools will ultimately not be known until the autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed for mainstream classroom teachers and any appeals to the staffing appeals boards will have been considered. The appellate process is particularly relevant at post-primary level where any specific curricular needs of the school concerned are considered.