Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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635. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills cén fath nach bhfuil an dara múinteoir á cheapadh do Scoil Náisiúnta Inis Meáin do Mheán Fómhair seo chugainn ó tharla go raibh ochtar scoláirí sa scoil i Meán Fómhair seo caite agus gur scoil oileánda í; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [5400/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Foilsítear na critéir a úsáidtear chun múinteoirí a leithdháileadh ar scoileanna ar shuíomh idirlín na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna gach bliain. Is é an príomhchritéar lena gcinntear an leibhéal acmhainní foirnithe a sholáthraítear ag leibhéal na scoile aonair ná an sceideal foirnithe don scoilbhliain chuí agus an líon daltaí ar an rolla ar an 30 Meán Fómhair roimhe sin. Tá na socruithe foirnithe don scoilbhliain 2016/17 leagtha amach i gCiorclán 0007/2016.

Bhí ochtar dalta ar an rolla ag an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ar 30ú Meán Fómhair 2015. Is é 15 an líon daltaí a theastaíonn chun an dara múinteoir a cheapadh.

Tá próiseas achomharc ar fáil do scoileanna beaga sa chás go mbíonn siad in ann a léiriú gur leor an líon réamh-mheasta daltaí a bheidh ar an rolla acu chun ligean dóibh an múinteoir rangsheomra a choinneáil sa bhfadtéarma. Tá achomharc foirnithe faighte ag an Roinn ó Scoil Náisiúnta Inis Meáin a bhreithneofar ag cruinniú mhí Bhealtaine de Bhord na nAchomharc um Fhoirniú Bunscoile. Feidhmíonn Bord na nAchomharc go neamhspleách ar an Roinn agus ní bhíonn dul thar a bhreith.

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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. Staffing arrangements for the 2016/17 school year are set out in Circular 0007/2016.

The school referred to by the Deputy had an enrolment of 8 pupils on 30th September 2015. The enrolment required to appoint the second teacher is 15.

An appeals process is available to small schools in the event that they can show that their projected enrolments are sufficient to allow them to retain their classroom teacher in the longer term. The Department has received a staffing appeal from SN Inis Meadhoin which will be considered at the May meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.