I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 to 72, inclusive, together.
The Report on the Net Impact , in terms of posts, of Budget Measures on DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 urban primary schools that still had additional posts allocated under disadvantage schemes, pre-dating DEIS was published on 21 February 2012.
On foot of the analysis of this report, the Government agreed to retain a total of 235 posts, on a concessionary basis, in the 140 DEIS Band 1 and DEIS Band 2 schools which were identified as being impacted by the possible loss of posts. However, staffing identified for individual schools are affected by a number of net factors such as demographics — impact of increasing and decreasing enrolments, the reform of the teacher allocation process to update the General Allocation Model and the move away from a ‘top up' to the staffing schedules.
As already announced the withdrawal of 192 posts from primary schools outside DEIS Band 1 and 2 and from DEIS second level schools will proceed. These involve 136 posts from 163 post primary schools, 16 posts from 16 rural primary schools, 40 posts from 17 non DEIS primary schools. A fully accurate comparison between the staffing levels in DEIS schools in the current school year and the 2012/13 school year can only be made when the allocation process is fully completed later in 2012 to include applications by schools for developing posts, the Appeals Process, clustering arrangements for GAM and the allocation of resource hours by the National Council for Special Education.
The priority for my Department now is to complete the teacher allocation process and to issue notification to each DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 school of their staffing entitlements for 2012/13 and the outcome of the Government's decision to retain 235 posts from previous disadvantage schemes in 140 Band 1 and Band 2 DEIS schools. The report is available on my Department's website.