Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the staffing appeal submitted by a school (details supplied) in County Cork will be reviewed; his views on whether the appeal criteria do not take enough consideration of the issues facing small schools and multigrade classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50357/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually 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 previous 30 September.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

The Staffing Schedule includes the provision where schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. This process includes a provision in which schools that are not gaining an additional teaching post under the developing schools criterion can submit an appeal to the independent Appeals Board. This appeal criterion is targeted at those schools that make a significant contribution to the provision of school places and so assist the response to demographic growth within their area.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its October meeting under the criteria of alleviating some of the pressure on class sizes at infants level. The appeal was refused by the Appeals Board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional post for the 2017/18 school year. The school has been notified of the outcome of the appeal.

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

Budget 2018 provides for an additional 1280 teaching posts in the 2018/19 school year. This includes a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to the most favourable ever seen at primary level.

These changes will come into effect in September 2018 for the 2018/19 school year.

The detailed staffing arrangements including appeal process for 2018/19 will be set out in the staffing schedule Circular for the 2018/19 school year. The circular will be published early in 2018.