Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

956. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse a decision to suppress a post at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37751/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Department of Education and Skills Circular 0005/2015 sets out the criteria for the allocation of teaching posts to primary schools for the 2015/2016 school year. The circular includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September, in this case September 2015.For the Deputy's information, the school to which he refers is located in Co. Waterford.

The school was approved for 1 permanent developing school post for the current school year, subject to achieving projected enrolments on 30 September 2015. Actual pupil numbers on 30 September 2015 did not meet the projected enrolment provided by the school.

The school submitted an appeal to the October 2015 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Following additional information received from the school, the Appeals Board has given provisional sanction for the developing post to be retained pending confirmation of enrolment by 31 December 2015. The school has been notified of this decision.

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

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

957. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse a decision to suppress a temporary EAL post in a school (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37752/15]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

958. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why a temporary EAL post in a school (details supplied) in County Waterford has had suppressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37753/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 957 and 958 together.

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the 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 previous 30 September. The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The staffing arrangements and appeals process for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is on the Department's website.

The staffing appeal process at primary level includes the provision whereby schools with a high concentration of pupils requiring English as an additional language (EAL) can apply for additional temporary language support posts. These EAL allocations are made on the basis of appeals by schools to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board, using projected enrolment for the following September.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal under the EAL criterion to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Board upheld the appeal subject to the school achieving its projected enrolments on 30 September 2015.

As the projected enrolment was subsequently not achieved, the temporary EAL post was withdrawn. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.