Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Education and Skills

School Staffing

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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581. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an application by a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for curricular concession posts was refused by her Department, in view of circumstances at the school which accommodates a large number of students with special education needs, and where status under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme has not been awarded; if she will re-examine the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13001/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. At post primary level and in accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e., curricular concessions. As set out in the published staffing arrangements for the 2015/16 school year the closing date for submission of such applications was Wednesday, 4 March, 2015. My Department intends to notify decisions on these applications to school authorities, including the school authority referred to by the Deputy, by late April, 2015.

The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are also set out in the published staffing arrangements. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

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