John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an appeal for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) will be expedited in view of the fact that the first term is now nearly over. [39326/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Officials in my Department have confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy has recently submitted an appeal to the Appeals Officer in SUSI and he will be advised directly of the outcome.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Reforms introduced in the 2012/13 school year created a single simplified allocation process to cover both learning and language support. At primary level, GAM/EAL (learning/language support) hours are allocated on the basis of mainstream classroom teaching posts in the school. At post-primary level, learning/language support is allocated on the basis of pupil numbers. Schools have autonomy to deploy this resource between learning support and language support depending on the specific needs of the school.

The new arrangements also provided for additional permanent teaching posts to be given to schools with high concentration of pupils that require language support. Further additional temporary EAL support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high concentrations of pupils (at least 20% of total enrolment) that require language support. These allocations are made on the basis of appeals by any of these schools to the Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements.