Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school placements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18254/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Department of Education and Skills Circular 0007/2014 sets out the criteria for the allocation of teaching posts to primary schools for the 2014/2015 school year. 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 include the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for September 2014. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria, including developing grounds, to an independent Appeals Board.

In addition, the staffing appeals process at primary level has been extended for the coming school year to allow schools that are not gaining an additional teaching post under the developing schools criterion to submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. This appeal criterion is targeted at those schools that make a significant contribution to the provision of school places and so assist the response to demographic growth within their area and, as a result, are under significant pressure on their class sizes at infants level. Circular 0007/2014 provides details for schools wishing to make an appeal.

The next meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board will be held in June, 2014. The closing date for schools to submit an appeal application to the Department's Primary Allocations Section is Friday 30 May, 2014. It is open to the school referred to by the Deputy to submit an application(s) to my Department as outlined above.