Written answers

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Department of Education and Skills

School Staff

Photo of Steven MatthewsSteven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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940. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied) that is set to lose a teacher for the coming school year; if a further appeals mechanism is available to reflect the large increase in school numbers since the appeal submission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29004/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 30 September.

For the 2022/23 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 24 pupils which is a historical low ratio.

The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The appeal submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy has been refused by the Appeals Board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal does not warrant the allocation of an additional post under the staffing arrangements.

The staffing arrangements include a provision for schools to resubmit a new appeal on the basis of changed circumstances in a school, e.g. increased enrolments.

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