Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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797. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Kerry with projected increases to 93, 101, 98 and 97 in enrolments for the next four years will retain its current teaching complement for the 2015-2016 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11725/15]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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819. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the proposed cut to teacher numbers at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12016/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 797 and 819 together.

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department 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 primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie.

The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.

An appeals process is also available to small schools. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the March, 2015 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board held its first meeting for 2015 last week. Arrangements are underway in my Department to notify those schools that have submitted an appeal of the decision of the Board.

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