Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2012
102 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any primary school in County Cavan will lose staff next September as a result of the staffing schedule changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17444/12]
View answer103 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any primary school in County Monaghan will lose staff next September as a result of the staffing schedule changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17445/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.
Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. My Department has published the staffing arrangements at primary level for the coming school year, 2012/13. The relevant circular, 0007/2012 is available on my Department's website. The allocation process at primary level also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are set out in the circular referred to above. For the coming school year the existing staffing appeals criteria has been extended to enable some limited phasing arrangements for schools where the combination of budget and reform measures impact on a particularly adverse manner on a school's overall allocation. The Appeal Board operate independently of the Department and its decision is final. The final staffing position for all schools at primary level will ultimately not be known until the Autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and any appeals to the Staffing Appeal Board will have been considered.
