Michael Ring
Question:196 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a fourth teacher can be retained at a gaelscoil in County Mayo (details supplied) for September 2002. [18866/02]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
The staffing of a primary school is determined by the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is agreed for a particular year following discussions with the education partners.
The enrolment of the school referred to by the Deputy on 30 September, 2001 was 56 pupils which warrants a staffing of a teaching principal and two mainstream class teachers for the 2002-2003 school year.
As the agreed appointment figure for the third mainstream class teacher is 77 pupils, I regret there is no basis on which I may sanction an additional post at this school for the 2002-03 school year.
The Deputy may be aware that I recently established an independent appeals board to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeals board will operate independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision will be final. A circular outlining these new procedures has recently been issued to all primary schools and is also available on my Department's website.