I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 287 together.
The number of mainstream classroom teachers allocated to primary schools is based on the enrolment of the previous 30th September. The number of such posts allocated from year to year changes due to a number of factors including increasing or decreasing enrolments.
Legacy posts were retained by 140 Band 1 and Band 2 schools over and above their entitlement under DEIS for the 2011/12 school year. The school referred to by the Deputy is a DEIS Band 1 School but was not among the 140 DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 schools included in the recent report on legacy posts. The school was originally allocated a concessionary post under a previous disadvantage scheme but with the introduction of DEIS in 2005, this post became part of the school's teaching allocation to implement the more favourable pupil teacher ratios of 20:1 and therefore it was not retained by the school over and above its entitlements under DEIS. Since this post is part of the schools overall DEIS allocation for the last six years, the school staffing allocation has not been impacted by this particular budget measure.
Applying the new dedicated staffing schedule for Band 1 schools to implement the more favourable pupil teacher ratio of 20:1, this school is due to lose two mainstream classroom teachers due to falling enrolment over its September 2010 enrolment. I wish to clarify that this school would lose these posts regardless of any reforms to the teacher allocation process due to falling enrolments.
The allocation processes also include 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 primary circular 0007/12.
For the coming school year the existing staffing appeals criteria have been extended to enable some limited phasing arrangements for schools where the combination of budget and reform measures impact in a particularly adverse manner on a school's overall allocation. The closing date for submission of appeal was 23 March, 2012.
The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an appeal.
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 Boards will have been considered.
