Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Laois will be allowed retain its four teachers in view of the number of pupils in this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25535/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements in schools for the 2012/2013 school year can also be affected by changes in their enrolment, the impact of budget measures and the reforms to the teacher allocation process. As part of the new staffing arrangements my Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the small primary schools that are losing a classroom post as a result of the budget measure. Such schools will not lose their classroom post if they are projecting increased enrolments in September 2012 that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts over the longer term.

The school submitted an appeal to the Staffing Appeals Board. All appeals submitted to the Primary Staffing Appeal Board were considered in accordance with the published appeals criteria that is set out in my Department's Staffing Circular 0007/2012. This was done at its meeting on 18th and 19th April. The appeal by the school was unsuccessful on the basis that the school did not meet the published appeal criteria. However, the Appeal Board will review this decision in September if the school's actual enrolment in September 2012 increases to the required level. The Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

A summary outcome of the appeals is now published on my Department's website. Individual schools have been notified of the outcome of their appeals.