Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an appeal by a school (details supplied) will be successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10601/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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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. Circular 0007/2016 provides details for schools wishing to make an appeal.

The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal to be considered at the May meeting. The Appeals Board will meet later this month and the school will be notified of the Appeals Board's decision by the end of May.

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

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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338. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to lift the staffing cap from a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10608/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places in an area. The area in which the school is located has not been identified as an area of demographic growth. It is considered that there are sufficient primary school places in the catchment area to meet pupil demand.

It is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all the schools in catchment areas to ensure one school is not expanding at the expense of the viability of another school. This may sometimes result in children not being offered a place in their school of first choice.

As you will appreciate there is a responsibility on schools to manage their own enrolment policies to ensure that they operate within the level of accommodation available to them.