Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to accept an appeal from a school (details supplied) further to the loss of two teaching posts on the grounds that its rooms are too small to accommodate classes of 29 and 31 children and to maintain the two teaching posts, given that the loss would have a huge impact on this most disadvantaged community. [9935/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0007/2016) which is available 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 30 September 2015.

The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the published staffing arrangements, Circular 0007/2016.

The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal to be considered at the May meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. This meeting will be held later this month and the school will be notified of the decision of the Appeals Board in due course.

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