Vol. 567 No. 2
183 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason that Cushenstown national school will not retain a teacher, in view of the fact that by September 2003, the ongoing increasing student numbers in the school indicate that an additional teacher will be warranted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/03]
The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners.
The school in question had an enrolment of 75 pupils on 30 September 2002 which entitles the school to a staffing of a principal and two mainstream class teachers for the 2003-04 school year. The school also has the services of a shared resource teacher. The agreed appointment figure for the third mainstream class teacher is 82 pupils and consequently there is no basis on which my Department may sanction an additional teaching post in Cushenstown national school.
An independent appeals board was established to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeals board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final. A circular outlining these new procedures issued to all primary schools.
I understand that the next meeting of the appeals board will take place in early July, 2003. It is open to the board of management to make application to the appeals board under the criteria outlined in my Department's circular 19/02. Such an application should be submitted on the appropriate form no later than 20 June 2003.
