Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if discretion can be used to appoint a third teacher in circumstances in which small rural primary schools are short only one or two pupils in order to qualify for an additional teacher (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40372/18]

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 also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

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

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board will meet in mid-October to consider appeals for the 2018/19 school year. Application forms are available in Circular 0010/2018, published on the Department of Education website. The closing date for receipt of appeals for this meeting is 8th October 2018.

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

Staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2019/20 school year will be published in February next year. At that stage, schools will be able to establish their staffing for September 2019 and submit a staffing appeal if required.