Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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536. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding retention and appointment figures for teachers in school with one to four teachers; the reason for the divergence between retention and appointment figures; when this policy of differing enrolments for retention and appointment in these schools was first introduced by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33156/15]

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.

The Deputy will be aware that I announced some improvements in the staffing schedule for small primary schools in February 2015. These changes were introduced to better support the sustainability of small schools and particularly those in isolated areas and were the only changes that I made to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year.

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.

These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8km from the next nearest school of the same type.

This package of measures will provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools, recognising the essential social function which small schools can play, especially in isolated communities.

An appeals process is also available to small schools. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0005/2015. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Separate appointment and retention figures are also a long standing feature of the staffing schedule for Gaeltacht schools.