Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the allocation of teacher numbers to Roscommon Vocational Education Committee in view of the fact that current proposals will leave a shortfall of five teaching posts and possible closure of one school; if he will review the position urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19393/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Teacher allocations to VEC schemes are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment.

In accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e. curricular concessions. An application for curricular concessions was received from Roscommon VEC and the VEC was allocated an additional 37 concessionary hours for the 2011/12 school year. This concession is available as a short term support to enable essential curricular provision to continue. Roscommon VEC was also provisionally allocated 11 hours in respect of increased enrolment for the 2011/12 school year. These hours will be available to the VEC in September on confirmation of the projected increase in enrolments.

The allocation processes also include an appeals mechanism under which VEC's can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. CEO's of the VEC can submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was established specifically to adjudicate on appeals on staffing allocations in post-primary schools. The VEC in question availed of this appeals mechanism and the Appeals Board approved a further 15 concessionary hours for the 2011/12 school year. This Board operates independently of my Department and the decision of the Board is final. Discrete allocations are also made to VEC schools to cater for pupils with Special Educational Needs and those with Language difficulties for example.

In total Roscommon VEC has been allocated 2.86 whole time equivalent teaching posts on a concessionary basis for the 2011/12 academic year and this is a substantial increase in staffing at a time when my Department has to exercise additional control and reporting measures to ensure that the number of teachers employed in schools is consistent with the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland.

All schools must now operate within its approved staffing allocation and each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of this approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authority.