Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the issue raised in correspondence (details supplied) and confirm the staffing for 2011-12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13746/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The issues raised by the Deputy relate to a school which has a surplus teacher for redeployment. The school is awaiting its National Council for Special Education-approved allocation of resource teaching hours for the 2011-12 school year. It is not possible for the school to retain its surplus teacher and she must be redeployed in the normal manner.

The Department's Circular 30/2011 sets out the arrangements for the deployment of resource teaching posts in schools for the 2011-12 school year. The purpose of this circular is to inform schools of the arrangements that are being put in place for the 2011-12 school year in respect of their National Council for Special Education-approved resource hours so that posts are deployed in line with authorised allocations. The Department's approach has allowed schools to "roll over" all their existing full-time posts on the condition that any surplus capacity in these posts is shared with other local schools. If the "roll-over" arrangements are not sufficient to meet a school's NCSE approved allocation they must firstly contact their local schools for any surplus capacity and then, if necessary, avail of the application process to the Department under the circular.