Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the rationale behind the decision to withdraw a concessionary post from a DEIS school (details supplied); if he will revisit the decision in view of the disadvantaged nature of the area, the severe disruption the loss of a teacher would have to the structure of classes in the school, the school's steadily growing enrolment, which has doubled since 2005, and the reasonable expectation that the school would meet the criteria for an additional teacher for the 2013/14 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24924/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As a result of Budget 2012, the school to which the Deputy refers is among 16 out of a total of 328 Rural DEIS schools who will lose 1 teaching post retained under previous disadvantage programmes prior to the introduction of the DEIS Initiative in 2005.

These posts were retained in these schools in addition to classroom teacher posts and other supports that are allocated to all DEIS schools. The retention of these posts, in some DEIS schools created a degree of inequity in the system and that is one of the reasons they were considered for withdrawal. DEIS Rural Primary schools were not within the scope of the Report on the net impact of Budget 2012 on DEIS urban schools. Accordingly, the decision I have made in relation to these schools is final and will not be revisited.

The staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year are set out in Primary Circular 0007/2012 which is available on my Department's website. The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are set out in the circular referred to above. The closing date for submission of appeals for the April meeting of the Staffing Appeals Board was 23 March, 2012. I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers submitted an appeal but the appeal was refused. The school was notified directly by the Staffing Appeals Board.

The decision of the Appeals Board which operates independently of my Department is final.