Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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 30th September.

However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools also includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September, in this case September 2019.

The school referred to by the Deputy were allocated a teaching post on developing grounds, but did not achieve the required enrolment on 30th September 2019 to retain the post for the remainder of the school year.

The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The school submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and, having considered the appeal, the Board deemed the appeal ineligible on the basis that it did not satisfy the criteria outlined in the published staffing arrangements. The school will be entitled to an additional mainstream class teacher in the 2020/21 school year based on its latest enrolment returns.

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