Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that have lost a teacher in County Donegal as a result of the revised schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53737/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools with four teachers or less. The first phase of the budget measure took effect from September 2012. The final phase of the budget measure takes effect from September 2014.

An appeals process is available to small schools which have had their staff number reduced as a result of the budget measure. A school with four classroom teachers or less which is losing a teacher or failed to gain an additional teacher as a result of the Budget 2012 measure can submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Details on the appeals process are published annually as part of the Staffing Schedule for allocating teaching posts to schools. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Since September 2012, ten schools in Co. Donegal have had a post suppressed as a result of the Budget 2012 measure.