Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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527. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made regarding an application to the staffing appeals tribunal by a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33055/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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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 October, 2015 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Schools that have submitted an appeal will be informed of the decision of the Board after this meeting takes place.

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