Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current staffing updates for a school (details supplied) in County Louth; in view of the rise in student numbers next year, his views on adequate staffing levels for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10229/12]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of teachers that will lose their positions due to his proposed changes to two, three and four teacher schools in County Wexford. [10251/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 116 together.

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 is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The relevant appointment and retention figures for mainstream staffing for the coming school year have been published on the Department's website. However, the staffing arrangements in schools for the 2012/2013 school year can also be affected by changes in their enrolment, the impact of other budget measures and the reforms to the teacher allocation process. The reform of the allocation process is designed to bring a more equitable distribution of existing posts between schools so there will inevitably be some schools that will lose posts and some schools that will gain posts. Surplus teachers in schools will be redeployed to vacancies in other neighbouring schools in accordance with the redeployment arrangements. My Department will be notifying schools shortly of the new staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year. It will include details of the staffing appeals process and appeal criterion for those small schools that are projecting increased enrolments that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts over the longer term.