Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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954. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a staffing appeal and DEIS status for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37655/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2015/2016 school year is set out in Circular 0005/2015, which is available on my Department's 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 30 September 2014. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at the March 2015 meeting. The Appeals Board determined that the appeal did not satisfy all of the published criteria as set out in Circular 0005/2015. The school has been notified in this regard. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

As the Deputy is aware, I have recently commenced a process to renew the DEIS programme. The review process is being undertaken over the course of the current school year and will consider all issues pertaining to educational disadvantage. Pending the outcome of this review I will not be making any changes to the current DEIS programme, including the additionally of further schools.