Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider making a concession for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo, based on the information provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6203/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the 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. Staffing arrangements at primary level for the 2014/15 school year are set out in Circular 0007/2014 which is now available on the Department website. The enrolment tables for the operation of the staffing schedule for the 2014/2015 school year are listed at Appendix A of the circular. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.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 schools which have had their staff numbers reduced. Circular 0007/2014 provides details for schools wishing to make an appeal. The Appeals Board meets three times per year. The closing date for submission of staffing appeals for the first meeting of 2014 is Friday 14 February 2014. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.