Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

360 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No 248 of 20 May 2003, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school has to go in the first instance to primary staffing appeals board to retain a teacher granted under Department circular 19/02 and therefore in effect there is no appeal system as the board's decision is final; the mechanism Gaelscoil Sairseal, Limerick, will have to retain the teacher already granted, particularly as circumstances have not changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15606/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30 September of the previous school year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule finalised for a particular school year following discussions with the education partners.

It is open to the board of management of a primary school to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeals board established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy was considered by the appeals board in early April 2003 and was rejected. The board of management has raised issues in writing regarding the appeals criteria and this correspondence will be brought to the attention of the appeals board, which is scheduled to meet in early July 2003.