Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will urgently examine an appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry regarding the reinstatement of its third teacher; if he will take into consideration the grave health and safety and child protection concerns that have arisen from the loss of the third teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13667/14]

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. The staffing arrangements for the coming school year 2014/15 are set out in Circular 0007/2014 which is available on the website.The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Section 4 of Circular 0007/2014 provides details for schools wishing to make an appeal.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board meets three times per year. The first meeting was held in February, 2014. The school referred to by the Deputy did not submit an appeal to the February meeting of the Appeals Board. The next meeting will be held in June, 2014. The closing dates for submission of staffing appeals to the June meeting will be posted on the Department website in due course.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.