Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will appoint a third teacher to a school (details supplied) in September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42461/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary 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 arrangements for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is on the Department's website. The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The criteria for appeals are set out in Circular 0005/2015.The school referred to by the Deputy has a current staffing of Principal and 1 mainstream teacher, based on an enrolment of 46 pupils on 30th September 2014.

The Deputy will be aware that I have announced a one point improvement to the primary staffing schedule in the context of Budget 2016. The improved staffing schedule which is available on the Department website will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. The staffing arrangements for all schools for the 2016/17 school year will be published early in 2016.