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School Staffing.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004

Tuesday, 30 November 2004

Questions (400, 401, 402)

Finian McGrath

Question:

454 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if urgent assistance will be given to a school (details supplied) due to the threatened loss of one of its teachers; and the action she will take to facilitate this school. [31026/04]

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Richard Bruton

Question:

505 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the teacher allocation to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 which, since the enrolment date has increased its enrolment, has a planned intake which will see rising pupil numbers over the coming years, and will face very difficult class combinations if the appeal decision is upheld; and the number of teachers released in this academic year by the population dividend. [31525/04]

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Seán Crowe

Question:

506 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will intervene regarding an issue relating to a school (details supplied) in Glasnevin north where a teacher has been suppressed due to the fact that the school is two children short of the quota. [31532/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 454, 505 and 506 together.

The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment in 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 guidelines can only be deviated from where a school experiences rapid growth in its enrolment. In such cases, an additional post, referred to as a developing school post, may be sanctioned provisionally where the projected enrolment at 30 September of the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is not achieved on 30 September, sanction for the post is withdrawn. The enrolment in the school referred to by the Deputies on 30 September 2003 was 59 pupils, which warrants a staffing of principal plus two mainstream posts for the 2004-05 school year. On the basis of projected enrolments, a developing school post was approved provisionally. However, the required enrolment figure at 30 September 2004 was not achieved and accordingly sanction for the post was withdrawn.

To ensure openness in the teacher allocation system at primary level, an independent appeals board is now in place to decide on any appeals on mainstream staffing. The staffing of this school for the 2004-05 school year was considered by the appeals board on 21 October 2004. The board, having considered the appeal with regard to the criteria outlined in Department circular 19/02, was satisfied that a departure from the staffing schedule is not warranted in this case. The board of management of the school was notified of the decision of the appeals board on 21 October 2004. I am sure the Deputies will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent appeals board. One hundred and thirty-two additional teaching posts were created as a result of the application of the mainstream staffing schedule for the current school year.

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